PRINTER'S NO. 3533
No. 2476 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY PETRI, MARCH 23, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 23, 2004
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the disposition
3 of complaints received and for investigating performance of
4 county agency.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Sections 6334(a) and 6343(b) of Title 23 of the
8 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
9 § 6334. Disposition of complaints received.
10 (a) Notice to county agency.--Upon receipt of a complaint of
11 suspected child abuse, the department shall [immediately]:
12 (1) Immediately transmit orally to the appropriate
13 county agency notice that the complaint of suspected child
14 abuse has been received and the substance of the complaint.
15 (2) (i) If the Statewide central register or the
16 pending complaint file contains information indicating a
17 prior report or a current investigation concerning a
18 subject of the report, the department shall immediately
1 notify the appropriate county agency of this fact.
2 (ii) The appropriate county agency shall mean the
3 agency in the county where the suspected child abuse
4 occurred.
5 (iii) If the residency of the subjects is a factor
6 that requires the cooperation of more than one county
7 agency, the department shall develop regulations to
8 ensure the cooperation of those agencies in carrying out
9 the requirements of this chapter.
10 (3) The department may at any time investigate the
11 county agency's performance with regard to a complaint of
12 child abuse. The investigation may begin without advanced
13 notice to the county agency.
14 * * *
15 § 6343. Investigating performance of county agency.
16 * * *
17 (b) Performance audit.--Notwithstanding any other provision
18 of this chapter, the secretary or a designee of the secretary
19 may direct, at their discretion, and [after reasonable notice to
20 the county agency] at least once annually shall direct, a
21 performance audit of any activity engaged in pursuant to this
22 chapter. The department shall not give advanced notice to the
23 county agency that a performance audit may be conducted.
24 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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