1Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further
3providing for definitions; and providing for county agency
4accreditation.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Section 6303(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
8Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:

9§ 6303. Definitions.

10(a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used
11in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this
12section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

13* * *

14"Accreditation." Recognition received by an entity,
15including a county or private agency, that the entity, county or
16private agency maintains standards that affirm the caliber of
17the services provided by the entity, county or private agency
18and afford criteria by which the public may identify the
19standards for efficient management and high-quality services.

1"Accreditation agency." A nationally recognized child-care
2and family-care service and behavioral health care accrediting
3organization that promotes standards and champions quality
4services for children, youth and families.

5* * *

6"Prevention service." A service for children and their
7families that is primarily designed to prevent child abuse and
8neglect, juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency, school
9dropouts, truancy, violence and the need for out-of-home
10placements.

11* * *

12Section 2. Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of Title 23 is amended
13by adding sections to read:

14§ 6350. County agency accreditation.

15By January 1, 2014, county agencies providing child
16protective services as defined in section 6303 (relating to
17definitions) shall be accredited by an accreditation agency. The
18department shall take appropriate action if a county agency has
19not achieved accreditation by January 1, 2015.

20§ 6350.1 Department accreditation.

21(a) Accreditation.--By January 1, 2014, the department shall
22be accredited by an accreditation agency.

23(b) Grants.--The department shall make available grants from
24an amount to be appropriated by the General Assembly for county
25agencies and public and private agencies to obtain
26accreditation.

27(c) Annual inspections.--If a county agency or public or
28private agency has been accredited by an accreditation agency,
29the agency may not be subject to the requirements of the
30department prescribed in 55 Pa. Code § 20.31 (relating to annual

1inspection) unless deemed appropriate by the department.

2Section 3. Section 6364 of Title 23 is amended to read:

3§ 6364. Purchasing services of other agencies.

4(a) General rule.--Any other provision of law
5notwithstanding but consistent with sections 6361 (relating to
6organization for child protective services) and 6362 (relating
7to responsibilities of county agency for child protective
8services), the county agency, based upon the plan of services as
9provided in section 6363 (relating to county plan for protective
10services), may purchase and utilize the services of any
11appropriate public or private agency.

12(b) Accreditation.--

13(1) A public or private agency providing child
14protective services to a county agency shall be accredited by
15an accreditation agency. An agency receiving funds from the
16department or a county agency to provide prevention services
17shall also be accredited by an accreditation agency.

18(2) A public or private agency shall receive
19accreditation by January 1, 2014.

20(3) If, after January 1, 2015, the agency has not been
21accredited, the county agency shall not purchase the services
22of the public or private agency.

23Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.