Social Services, Department of; family assessments, face-to-face interviews with victim children.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide details about what happens if an interview cannot be completed within the required timeframe.

Face-to-Face Interviews with Young Victims

This bill requires the Department of Social Services to conduct face-to-face interviews with victim children under three years old within 24 hours after receiving a report.

What This Bill Does

• Requires face-to-face interviews for victim children younger than three years old as part of family assessments.
• Interviews must happen within 24 hours of getting the report that triggers the assessment.

Who It Names or Affects

• Department of Social Services
• Victim children younger than three years old

Terms To Know

Family assessment

A process to check if a family needs help and support.

Victim child

A young child who has been hurt or is at risk of being hurt.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if an interview cannot be done within 24 hours.
• It is unclear how the Department will handle public comments on new regulations.

Official Summary Text

Department of Social Services; Child Protective Services; family assessments; face-to-face interviews with victim children.
Directs the Department of Social Services to amend its regulations to require that face-to-face interviews with victim children younger than three years of age conducted as part of a family assessment occur within 24 hours of receiving the report that triggers such family assessment. Under current law, the requirement that such interview be conducted within 24 hours applies to children younger than two years of age.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Department of Social Services to amend its regulations to require face-to-face interviews with victim children younger than three years of age within 24 hours of receiving a report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Department of Social Services shall amend its regulations
to require that face-to-face interviews with victim children under three years of age conducted
as part of a family assessment occur within 24 hours of receipt of the report
that triggers such family assessment
.
The Board's initial adoption of regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act (§
2.2-4000
et seq. of the Code of Virginia), except that the Board shall provide an opp
ortunity for public comment on such regulations prior to adoption.