Pennsylvania HB 2699: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for services for prevention, investigation and treatment of child abuse and for reports to department and coroner; and making an editorial change.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3771
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2699
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, FRITZ, PUGH, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, SAPPEY
AND D. WILLIAMS, JULY 14, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 14, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further
providing for services for prevention, investigation and
treatment of child abuse and for reports to department and
coroner; and making an editorial change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6341(f) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 6341. Amendment or expunction of information.
* * *
(f) Notice of expunction.--Written notice of an expunction
of any child abuse record made pursuant to the provisions of
this chapter shall be served upon the subject of the record who
was responsible for the abuse or injury and the appropriate
county agency. Except as provided in this subsection, the county
agency, upon receipt of the notice, shall take appropriate,
similar action in regard to the local child abuse records and
inform, for the same purpose, the appropriate coroner if that
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officer has received reports pursuant to section 6367 (relating
to reports to department and coroner or medical examiner).
Whenever the county agency investigation reveals, within 60 days
of receipt of the report of suspected child abuse, that the
report is unfounded but that the subjects need services provided
or arranged by the county agency, the county agency shall retain
those records and shall specifically identify that the report
was an unfounded report of suspected child abuse. An unfounded
report regarding subjects who receive services shall be expunged
no later than 120 days following the expiration of one year
after the termination or completion of services provided or
arranged by the county agency.
* * *
Section 2. Section 6365(d)(1) of Title 23 is amended and the
subsection is amended by adding paragraphs to read:
§ 6365. Services for prevention, investigation and treatment of
child abuse.
* * *
(d) Child fatality or near fatality review team and written
report.--
(1) A child fatality or near fatality review team shall
be convened by a county agency in accordance with a protocol
developed by the county agency, the department and the
district attorney in a case when a child dies or [nearly
dies] suffers a near fatality as a result of child abuse as
to which there is an indicated report or when the county
agency has not made a status determination within 30 days.
The team may convene after a county agency makes a
determination of an indicated report and shall convene no
later than 31 days from the receipt of the oral report to the
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department of the suspected child abuse. A county agency in
the county where the abuse occurred and in any county where
the child resided within the 16 months preceding the fatality
or near fatality shall convene a child fatality or near
fatality review team. [A team shall consist of at least six
individuals who are broadly representative of the county
where the team is established and who have expertise in
prevention and treatment of child abuse. With consideration
given to the circumstances of each case and availability of
individuals to serve as members, the team may consist of the
following individuals:
(i) A staff person from the county agency.
(ii) A member of the advisory committee of the
county agency.
(iii) A health care professional.
(iv) A representative of a local school, educational
program or child care or early childhood development
program.
(v) A representative of law enforcement or the
district attorney.
(vi) An attorney-at-law trained in legal
representation of children or an individual trained under
42 Pa.C.S. § 6342 (relating to court-appointed special
advocates).
(vii) A mental health professional.
(viii) A representative of a children's advocacy
center that provides services to children in the county.
The individual under this subparagraph must not be an
employee of the county agency.
(ix) The county coroner or forensic pathologist.
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(x) A representative of a local domestic violence
program.
(xi) A representative of a local drug and alcohol
program.
(xii) An individual representing parents.
(xiii) Any individual whom the county agency or
child fatality or near fatality review team determines is
necessary to assist the team in performing its duties.]
(1.1) A review team under paragraph (1) shall consist of
the following:
(i) At least six individuals who are broadly
representative of the county where the team is
established and who have expertise in prevention and
tre