Child abuse or neglect: reporting.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not mention sending copies of the report to attorneys representing children in dependency cases, only a notice to parents' attorneys and requirements related to maintaining and providing information from written reports upon request.

Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting: Parental Notification

AB-1688 requires local agencies to notify attorneys representing parents or legal guardians about reports of child abuse or neglect, except when parental rights have been terminated.

What This Bill Does

• Requires local agencies to send a notice to the attorney representing a parent or legal guardian if there is a report of suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Does not require notification for parents whose parental rights have ended.
• Prohibits sharing details about the report with the parent's attorney, only sending a notice.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local law enforcement and welfare departments
• Attorneys for parents and legal guardians involved in child protection cases

Terms To Know

Mandated reporters

Professionals like doctors, social workers, and teachers who must report suspected child abuse or neglect.

Dependency court

A special court that handles cases involving children who are not safe at home and need protection.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how local agencies will be funded to carry out these new requirements.
• The bill does not change the existing duties of mandated reporters or other professionals involved in child welfare.

Official Summary Text

AB 1688, as amended, Carrillo.
Child abuse or neglect: reporting.
Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, establishes procedures for the reporting and investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect. Existing law requires certain professionals, including specified health practitioners and social workers, known as “mandated reporters,” to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect to a local law enforcement agency or a county welfare or probation department, as specified. Existing law requires an employee of those agencies, in certain circumstances, to send or have sent, within 36 hours, a copy of a report made pursuant to these provisions to the attorney who represents the child, who is the subject of the report, in dependency court. Existing law requires the agency to maintain a copy of the written report and provide all information requested by the attorney for the child or the child’s guardian ad litem within 30 days of
the request.
This bill would require an employee of those agencies to additionally send
a copy
notice
of the report to the attorney who represents a parent or legal guardian of the child, as specified. Under the bill, that requirement would not apply to a parent whose parental rights have been terminated.
The bill would prohibit the notice from disclosing the substance of the report, as specified.
The bill would require an employee of the agency to send a copy of the report to all attorneys who represent children with an open dependency case in that placement if the suspected abuse or neglect occurred in a placement, as provided. By expanding the duties of local agencies
that receive reports alleging abuse or neglect of children, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF