PRINTER'S NO. 1558
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1290
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY POLINCHOCK, BOBACK, CIRESI, T. DAVIS, DeLUCA,
HELM, JAMES, McCLINTON, MILLARD, RYAN AND SAINATO,
APRIL 25, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, APRIL 25, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further
providing for definitions, for reporting procedure, for
disposition of complaints received, for information in
Statewide database and for release of information in
confidential reports.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6303(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 6303. Definitions.
(a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used
in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this
section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Family Advocacy Program." The Family Advocacy Program
established by the United States Department of Defense to
address child abuse and domestic abuse in military communities.
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"Military installation." A base, camp, post, station, yard,
center or other activity under the jurisdiction of the Adjutant
General. The term includes a State-owned National Guard
installation.
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"Service member." A person serving in the armed forces of
the United States or reserve component of the armed forces of
the United States, including the Pennsylvania National Guard.
The term includes a person serving in the United States Army,
United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States
Air Force and United States Coast Guard or any reserve component
thereof. The reserve component of the armed forces includes the
United States Army Reserve, United States Navy Reserve, United
States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Air Force Reserve,
United States Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard of the
United States and the Air National Guard of the United States.
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Section 2. Section 6313(b) of Title 23 is amended by adding
a paragraph to read:
§ 6313. Reporting procedure.
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(b) Contents of report.--A written report of suspected child
abuse, which may be submitted electronically, shall include the
following information, if known:
* * *
(7.1) If a subject of a report is a service member.
* * *
Section 3. Section 6334 of Title 23 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
§ 6334. Disposition of complaints received.
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(b.1) Receipt of reports by county agencies and referral to
Family Advocacy Program.--If the county agency investigates a
report of suspected child abuse and learns that the subject of a
report is a service member, the county agency shall immediately
give notice to the Family Advocacy Program by contacting the
Family Advocacy Program representative for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or the subject's assigned military installation.
The notice shall contain the following information:
(1) That a report of suspected child abuse committed by
a service member has been received.
(2) A summary of the nature and extent of the suspected
abuse.
(3) The existence in the Statewide database under
section 6331 (relating to establishment of Statewide
database) of a prior report or a current investigation or
assessment concerning a subject of the report, if any.
* * *
Section 4. Sections 6336(a) and 6340(a) of Title 23 are
amended by adding paragraphs to read:
§ 6336. Information in Statewide database.
(a) Information authorized.--The Statewide database shall
include and shall be limited to the following information:
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(6.1) If a subject of a report is a service member.
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§ 6340. Release of information in confidential reports.
(a) General rule.--Reports specified in section 6339
(relating to confidentiality of reports) shall only be made
available to:
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(19) A Family Advocacy Program representative for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or to the subject's assigned
military installation that needs the information to carry out
the military installation's responsibilities if the subject
of the report is a service member. The information provided
shall be limited to the following:
(i) That a report of suspected child abuse committed
by a service member has been received.
(ii) Whether the child abuse report is indicated,
founded or unfounded.
(iii) A summary of the nature and extent of any
founded report of child abuse.
(iv) Resource referrals and the services provided or
to be provided by the county agency.
(v) The existence in the Statewide database of a
prior report of child abuse or a current investigation or
assessment concerning the subject of the report, if any.
* * *
Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
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