THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY PETRI, FEBRUARY 13, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 13, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further

providing for the disposition of complaints received and for

investigating performance of county agency.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Sections 6334(a) and 6343(b) of Title 23 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 6334.  Disposition of complaints received.

(a)  Notice to county agency.--Upon receipt of a complaint of

suspected child abuse, the department shall [immediately]:

(1)  Immediately transmit orally to the appropriate

county agency notice that the complaint of suspected child

abuse has been received and the substance of the complaint.

(2)  (i)  If the Statewide central register or the

pending complaint file contains information indicating a

prior report or a current investigation concerning a

subject of the report, the department shall immediately

notify the appropriate county agency of this fact.

(ii)  The appropriate county agency shall mean the

agency in the county where the suspected child abuse

occurred.

(iii)  If the residency of the subjects is a factor

that requires the cooperation of more than one county

agency, the department shall develop regulations to

ensure the cooperation of those agencies in carrying out

the requirements of this chapter.

(3)  The department may at any time investigate the

county agency's performance with regard to a complaint of

child abuse. The investigation may begin without advance

notice to the county agency.

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§ 6343.  Investigating performance of county agency.

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(b)  Performance audit.--

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,

the secretary or a designee of the secretary may direct, at

their discretion, and [after reasonable notice to the county

agency] at least once annually shall direct, a performance

audit of any activity engaged in pursuant to this chapter.

The department shall not give advance notice to the county

agency that a performance audit may be conducted.

(2)  Once every two years the department shall direct a

performance audit of all public or private agencies from

which a county agency has purchased services.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.