Vermont H 306: An act relating to permitting oral reports of child abuse and neglect

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.306
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VT LEG #367312 v.1
H.306 1
Introduced by Representatives Wood of Waterbury and Brumsted of 2
Shelburne 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Human services; child welfare; mandated reporters 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to permit 7
mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect to submit an oral report without 8
requiring an additional written report. The bill would allow for the 9
Commissioner for Children and Families or designee to request a written report 10
to supplement the oral report. 11
An act relating to permitting oral reports of child abuse and neglect 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. 33 V.S.A. § 4914 is amended to read: 14
§ 4914. NATURE AND CONTENT OF REPORT; TO WHOM MADE 15
A report shall be made orally or in writing to the Commissioner or 16
designee. The Commissioner or designee shall may request the reporter to 17
follow the oral report with a written report, unless the reporter is anonymous. 18
Reports shall contain the name and address or other contact information of the 19
reporter as well as the names and addresses of the child and the parents or 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.306
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VT LEG #367312 v.1
other persons responsible for the child’s care, if known; the age of the child; 1
the nature and extent of the child’s injuries together with any evidence of 2
previous abuse and neglect of the child or the child’s siblings; and any other 3
information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injuries or 4
reasons for the neglect as well as in protecting the child and assisting the 5
family. If a report of child abuse or neglect involves the acts or omissions of 6
the Commissioner or employees of the Department, then the report shall be 7
directed to the Secretary of Human Services who shall cause the report to be 8
investigated by other appropriate Agency staff. If the report is substantiated, 9
services shall be offered to the child and to his or her the child’s family or 10
caretaker according to the requirements of section 4915b of this title. 11
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 12
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023. 13