AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in departmental powers and
4duties as to <-supervision and licensing, further providing for
5definitions; and providing for child abuse recognition and
6reporting training.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

<-9Section 1. Section 1001 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
10No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding
11definitions to read:

<-12Section 1. Section 901 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, 
13No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding 
14definitions to read:

15Section 901. Definitions.--As used in this article--

16"Abuse" means conduct that falls under the purview and
17reporting requirements of 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child

1protective services) and is directed toward or against a child
2under eighteen years of age.

3* * *

4"Direct contact with children" means the possibility of care,
5supervision, guidance or control of children or routine
6interaction with children.

7* * *

8"Operator" means an executive or facility director. The term
9does not include a person who is not involved in managerial
10decisions related to the provision of services for or care of
11children with regard to any of the following:

12(1) Personnel.

13(2) Policy and procedures.

14(3) Regulatory compliance.

15(4) Services related to the general or medical care of
16children.

17(5) Supervision of children.

18(6) Safety of children.

19* * *

20Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

21Section 917.  Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting
22Training.--Operators of institutions, facilities or agencies
23which care for children and are subject to supervision by the
24department under this article and their employes who have direct
25contact with children shall be required to receive child abuse
26recognition and reporting training. The following shall apply:

27(1)  Within six months of the effective date of this section,
28operators shall receive three hours of training prior to the
29issuance of a license or approval and three hours of training
30every five years thereafter.

1(2)  Employes who have direct contact with children and
2foster parents shall receive three hours of training within six
3months of the issuance of a license or approval and three hours
4of training every five years thereafter. New employes and new
5foster parents shall receive three hours of training within
6ninety days of hire and three hours of training every five years
7thereafter.

8(3)  Training curriculum shall be approved by the department
9and shall address, but not be limited to the following:

10(i)  Recognition of the signs of abuse and reporting
11requirements for suspected abuse in this Commonwealth.

12(ii)  The facility's or agency's policies related to
13reporting of suspected abuse.

14Section 3. Section 1001 of the act is amended by adding
15definitions to read:

16Section 1001. Definitions.--As used in this article--

17"Abuse" means conduct that falls under the purview and
18reporting requirements of 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child
19protective services) and is directed toward or against a child
20under eighteen years of age.

21* * *

22"Direct contact with children" means the possibility of care,
23supervision, guidance or control of children or routine
24interaction with children.

25* * *

<-26"Operator" means an executive or facility director. The term
27does not include a person who is not involved in managerial
28decisions related to the provision of services for or care of
29children with regard to any of the following:

30(1) Personnel.

1(2) Policy and procedures.

2(3) Regulatory compliance.

3(4) Services related to the general or medical care of
4children.

5(5) Supervision of children.

6(6) Safety of children.

7* * *

8Section <-2 4. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

<-9Section 1022. Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting
10Training.--Within one hundred eighty days of the effective date
11of this section, the department shall adopt regulations to
12require that operators of child day care centers and employes
13who have direct contact with children receive child abuse
14recognition and reporting training. The following shall apply:

15(1) Operators shall receive three hours of training prior to
16the issuance of a license and three hours of training every five
17years thereafter.

18(2) Employes who have direct contact with children shall
19receive three hours of training within ninety days of the date
20of hire and three hours of training every five years thereafter.

21(3) Training programs shall be approved by the department,
22and shall address, but not be limited to:

23(i) Recognition of the signs of abuse and reporting
24requirements for suspected abuse in this Commonwealth.

25(ii) The child day care center's policies related to
26reporting of suspected abuse.

<-27Section 1022.  Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting
28Training.--Operators of facilities and agencies which care for
29children and are subject to licensure by the department under
30this article and their employes who have direct contact with

1children shall be required to receive child abuse recognition
2and reporting training. The following shall apply:

3(1)  Within six months of the effective date of this section,
4operators shall receive three hours of training prior to the
5issuance of a license and three hours of training every five
6years thereafter.

7(2)  Employes who have direct contact with children shall
8receive three hours of training within six months of the
9issuance of a license and three hours of training every five
10years thereafter. New employes shall receive three hours of
11training within ninety days of hire and three hours of training
12every five years thereafter.

13(3)  Training curriculum shall be approved by the department
14and shall address, but not be limited to, the recognition of the
15signs of abuse and reporting requirements for suspected abuse in
16this Commonwealth.

17Section <-3 5. Section 1070 of the act is amended by adding
18definitions to read:

19Section 1070. Definitions.--As used in this article.--

20"Abuse" means conduct that falls under the purview and
21reporting requirements of 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child
22protective services) and is directed toward or against a child
23under eighteen years of age.

24* * *

25"Direct contact with children" means the possibility of care,
26supervision, guidance or control of children or routine
27interaction with children.

28* * *

29Section <-4 6. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

<-30Section 1076.1. Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting

1Training.--Within one hundred eighty days of the effective date
2of this section, the department shall adopt regulations to
3require that operators of family day care homes and employes who
4have direct contact with children receive child abuse
5recognition and reporting training. The following shall apply:

6(1) Operators shall receive three hours of training prior to
7the issuance of a registration certificate and three hours of
8training every five years thereafter.

9(2) Employes who have direct contact with children shall
10receive three hours of training within ninety days of the date
11of hire and three hours of training every five years thereafter.

12(3) Training programs shall be approved by the department,
13and shall address, but not be limited to, the recognition of the
14signs of abuse and reporting requirements for suspected abuse in
15this Commonwealth.

<-16Section 1076.1.  Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting
17Training.--Caregivers in family day care homes which are subject
18to registration by the department under this subarticle and
19their employes who have direct contact with children shall be
20required to receive child abuse recognition and reporting
21training. The following shall apply:

22(1)  Within six months of the effective date of this section,
23caregivers shall receive three hours of training prior to the
24issuance of a registration certificate and three hours of
25training every five years thereafter.

26(2)  Employes who have direct contact with children shall
27receive three hours of training within six months of the
28issuance of a registration certificate and three hours of
29training every five years thereafter. New employes shall receive
30three hours of training within ninety days of hire and three

1hours of training every five years thereafter.

2(3)  Training curriculum shall be approved by the department
3and shall address, but not be limited to, the recognition of the
4signs of abuse and reporting requirements for suspected abuse in
5this Commonwealth.

6Section <-5 7. This act shall take effect in 60 days.