2024 Senate Bill 910

AI Analysis – Experimental

Senate Bill No. 910 aims to amend the Child Protection Law (1975 PA 238), specifically revising sections 2, 7j, and 8. The bill seeks to clarify and expand definitions related to child protection, including terms such as "adult foster care location," "attorney," "central registry," and "child abuse," among others. It introduces a comprehensive approach to enhance the legal framework surrounding the protection of children, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of various entities and individuals involved in child welfare.

Key provisions include the maintenance of a statewide electronic case management system for tracking reports of child abuse or neglect, procedures for individuals to request removal from the central registry, and conditions under which expunction of records may occur. The bill mandates additional background checks for employment or volunteer work involving unsupervised contact with children and specifies the roles of local law enforcement and the department in investigating reports of child abuse or neglect.

The legislation outlines cooperation protocols between schools and the department during investigations, including conditions under which access to children without parental consent is permitted. It also addresses the confidentiality of reports and the classification of allegations, ensuring that individuals named in reports are notified and have the opportunity to request amendments to inaccurate records.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the importance of training for department employees on legal duties to protect constitutional and statutory rights, the consideration of open friend of the court cases in certain investigations, and the provision of information to noncustodial parents about changing custody or parenting time orders. It also clarifies that the surrender of a newborn in compliance with the Safe Delivery of Newborns Law is not considered child abuse or neglect.