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H.B. 303 Enrolled

                 

CHILD WELFARE REVISIONS

                 
2004 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Steven R. Mascaro

                 
                  LONG TITLE
                  General Description:
                      This bill amends Division of Child and Family Services child abuse, neglect, and
                  dependency investigation requirements.
                  Highlighted Provisions:
                      This bill:
                      .    modifies the requirement to interview a child's parents or guardian;
                      .    provides an exception to the unscheduled visit requirement under specified
                  circumstances;
                      .    makes corrections to the terms "unsubstantiated" and "substantiated"; and
                      .    makes other technical corrections.
                  Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
                      None
                  Other Special Clauses:
                      None
                  Utah Code Sections Affected:
                  AMENDS:
                      62A-4a-202.3, as last amended by Chapter 265, Laws of Utah 2002
                 
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 62A-4a-202.3 is amended to read:
                       62A-4a-202.3. Investigation -- Supported or unsupported reports -- Child in
                  protective custody.
                      (1) When a child is taken into protective custody in accordance with Section


                  62A-4a-202.1 , 78-3a-106 , or 78-3a-301 , or when the division takes any other action which would
                  require a shelter hearing under Subsection 78-3a-306 (1), the division shall immediately initiate an
                  investigation of the circumstances of the minor and the facts surrounding the minor's being taken
                  into protective custody.
                      (2) (a) The division's investigation shall include, among other actions necessary to meet
                  reasonable professional standards:
                      [(a)] (i) a search for and review of any records of past reports of abuse or neglect
                  involving the same child, any sibling or other child residing in that household, and the alleged
                  perpetrator;
                      [(b)] (ii) with regard to a child who is five years of age or older, a personal interview with
                  the child outside of the presence of the alleged perpetrator, conducted in accordance with the
                  requirements of Subsection (7);
                      [(c)] (iii) if their whereabouts are known, an interview with at least one of the child's
                  [natural] parents or [other] guardian[, unless their whereabouts are unknown];
                      [(d)] (iv) an interview with the person who reported the abuse, unless anonymous;
                      [(e)] (v) where possible and appropriate, interviews with other third parties who have had
                  direct contact with the child, including school personnel and the child's health care provider;
                      [(f)] (vi) an unscheduled visit to the child's home, unless:
                      (A) the division has reasonable cause to believe that the reported abuse was committed by
                  a person who is not the child's parent and does not:
                      [(i)] (I) live in the child's home; or
                      [(ii)] (II) otherwise have access to the child[; and] in the child's home; or
                      (B) an unscheduled visit is not necessary to obtain evidence for the investigation; and
                      [(g)] (vii) if appropriate and indicated in any case alleging physical injury, sexual abuse, or
                  failure to meet the child's medical needs, a medical examination. That examination shall be
                  obtained no later than 24 hours after the child was placed in protective custody.
                      (3) The division may rely on a written report of a prior interview rather than conducting
                  an additional interview, if:

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                      (a) law enforcement has previously conducted a timely and thorough investigation
                  regarding the alleged abuse [or], neglect, or dependency and has produced a written report;
                      (b) that investigation included one or more of the interviews required by Subsection (2);
                  and
                      (c) the division finds that an additional interview is not in the best interest of the child.
                      (4) (a) The division's determination of whether a report is [substantiated] supported or
                  [unsubstantiated] unsupported may be based on the child's statements alone.
                      (b) Inability to identify or locate the perpetrator may not be used by the division as a basis
                  for determining that a report is unsubstantiated, or for closing the case.
                      (c) The division may not determine a case to be [unsubstantiated] unsupported or identify
                  a case as [unsubstantiated] unsupported solely because the perpetrator was an out-of-home
                  perpetrator.
                      (d) Decisions regarding whether a report is [substantiated, unsubstantiated] supported,
                  unsupported, or without merit shall be based on the facts of the case at the time the report was
                  made.
                      (5) The division should maintain protective custody of the child if it finds that one or
                  more of the following conditions exist:
                      (a) the minor has no natural parent, guardian, or responsible relative who is able and
                  willing to provide safe and appropriate care for the minor;
                      (b) shelter of the minor is a matter of necessity for the protection of the minor and there
                  are no reasonable means by which the minor can be protected in the minor's home or the home of
                  a responsible relative;
                      (c) there is substantial evidence that the parent or guardian is likely to flee the jurisdiction
                  of the court; or
                      (d) the minor has left a previously court ordered placement.
                      (6) (a) Within 24 hours after receipt of a child into protective custody, excluding
                  weekends and holidays, the division shall convene a child protection team to review the
                  circumstances regarding removal of the child from the child's home or school[,] and prepare the

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                  testimony and evidence that will be required of the division at the shelter hearing, in accordance
                  with Section 78-3a-306 .
                      (b) Members of [that] the team shall include:
                      (i) the caseworker assigned to the case and the caseworker who made the decision to
                  remove the child;
                      (ii) a representative of the school or school district in which the child attends school;
                      (iii) the peace officer who removed the child from the home;
                      (iv) a representative of the appropriate Children's Justice Center, if one is established
                  within the county where the child resides;
                      (v) if appropriate, and known to the division, a therapist or counselor who is familiar with
                  the child's circumstances; and
                      (vi) any other individuals [as] determined [to be] appropriate and necessary by the team
                  coordinator and chair.
                      (c) At [that] the 24-hour meeting, the division shall have available for review and
                  consideration[,] the complete child protective services and foster care history of the child and the
                  child's parents and siblings.
                      (7) After receipt of a child into protective custody and prior to the adjudication hearing,
                  all investigative interviews with the child that are initiated by the division shall be audio or video
                  taped, and the child shall be allowed to have a support person of the child's choice present. That
                  support person may not be an alleged perpetrator.
                      (8) The division shall cooperate with law enforcement investigations regarding the alleged
                  perpetrator.
                      (9) The division may not close an investigation solely on the grounds that the division
                  investigator is unable to locate the child[,] until all reasonable efforts have been made to locate the
                  child and family members. Those efforts include:
                      (a) visiting the home at times other than normal work hours;
                      (b) contacting local schools;
                      (c) contacting local, county, and state law enforcement agencies; and

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                      (d) checking public assistance records.

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