2016 -- H 7663

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LC004896

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - ABUSED & NEGLECTED CHILDREN

     Introduced By: Representatives Regunberg, Blazejewski, Ajello, Maldonado, and

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 40-11-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-11 entitled "Abused and

Neglected Children" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     40-11-7. Investigation of reports -- Petition for removal from custody -- Report to

child advocate --Attorney general -- Court-appointed special advocate. -- (a) The department

shall investigate reports of child abuse and neglect made under this chapter in accordance with

the rules the department has promulgated and in order to determine the circumstances

surrounding the alleged abuse or neglect and the cause thereof. The investigation shall include

personal contact with the child named in the report and any other children in the same household.

Any person required to investigate reports of child abuse and/or neglect may question the subjects

of those reports with or without the consent of the parent or other person responsible for the

child's welfare. The interviewing of the child or children, if they are of the mental capacity to be

interviewed, shall take place in the absence of the person or persons responsible for the alleged

neglect or abuse. In the event that any person required to investigate child abuse and/or neglect is

denied reasonable access to a child by the parents or other person, and that person required to

investigate deems that the best interests of the child so require, they may request the intervention

of a local law enforcement agency, or seek an appropriate court order to examine and interview

the child. The department shall provide such social services and other services as are necessary to

protect the child and preserve the family.

      (b) In the event that after investigation it is determined by the department that the child is

being or has been abused or neglected but that the circumstances of the child's family or

otherwise do not require the removal of the child for his or her protection, the department may

allow the child to remain at home and provide the family and child with access to preventative

support and services. In addition, the department is authorized to petition the family court for an

order for the provision of treatment of the family and child.

      (c) The department shall have the duty to petition the family court for removal of the

child from the care and custody of the parents, or any other person having custody or care of the

child if there is a determination that a child has been abused or neglected; which results in a child

death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation or an act or failure to act

which represents an imminent risk of serious harm. In addition, in cases of alleged abuse and/or

neglect, the department may petition the family court for the removal of the alleged perpetrator of

that abuse, and/or neglect from the household of the child or children when the child or children

are eleven (11) years of age or older. It shall be the responsibility of the department to make the

parent or other person responsible for the child's welfare aware of the court action, the possible

consequences of the court action, and to explain the rights of the parent relative to the court

action.

      (d) The department shall forward immediately any reports of the death of any child that

has received or is receiving services from the department and any reports of institutional child

abuse and neglect to the child advocate who shall investigate the report in accordance with

chapter 73 of title 42, and also to any guardian ad litem and/or attorney of record for the child.

The child advocate shall promptly forward any investigations or reports regarding the death of

any child that has received or is receiving services from the department or any institutional child

abuse and neglect to the governor, the director of the department of health, the speaker of the

house and the senate president. The child advocate will convene a child fatality review board to

review fatalities and complete an annual report of the reviews. Reports will be posted on the

office of the child advocate website.

      (e) In the event that after investigation the department takes any action regarding

placement of the child, the department shall immediately notify the child advocate of such action.

      (f) In the event that after investigation the department has reasonable cause to know or

suspect that a child has been subjected to criminal abuse or neglect, the department shall forward

immediately any information as it relates to that knowledge or suspicion to the law enforcement

agency.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - ABUSED & NEGLECTED CHILDREN

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     This act would expand the reporting requirement for the abuse, neglect, or death of a

child who is receiving services of the department of children, youth, and families to include the

governor, the director of the department of health, the speaker of the house and the senate

president. It would also require the child advocate to organize a child fatality review board to

review fatalities and prepare an annual report that would be posted on the office of the child

advocate website.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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