PRINTER'S NO.  3695

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

2455

Session of

2012

  

  

INTRODUCED BY NEUMAN, BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, CUTLER, DAVIS, DEASY, DeLUCA, GODSHALL, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, W. KELLER, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MANN, MATZIE, McGEEHAN, MULLERY, MURT, NEILSON, PASHINSKI, PRESTON, READSHAW, SABATINA, SCHMOTZER, K. SMITH, STABACK, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 7, 2012

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 7, 2012  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania

2

Consolidated Statutes, providing for termination of county

3

services.

4

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

5

hereby enacts as follows:

6

Section 1.  Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

7

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

8

§ 6379.  Termination of county services.

9

(a)  General rule.--After accepting a child for child

10

protective services or general protective services, a county

11

agency shall provide services, pursuant to this chapter and

12

applicable regulations, to the child and the child's family.

13

Such services shall continue until the county agency is

14

reasonably assured, according to the child's risk assessment,

15

that the child is no longer in danger of abuse or in need of

16

general protective services. Once county services are

 


1

terminated, the reason for termination shall be documented in

2

the child's case record.

3

(b)  Inspections.--Before a case is closed and county

4

services are terminated, a county agency may inspect the child's

5

home environment or living conditions at any placement site or

6

facility to ensure the safety needs of the child are continuing

7

to be met, notwithstanding the results of the child's risk

8

assessment. Inspections conducted under this section may be

9

unannounced but shall not continue for a period longer than two

10

years and shall not occur more than one time per month.

11

(c)  Result of inspections.--If after an inspection a child

12

is found to be in danger of abuse or in need of further

13

services, the county agency shall investigate the case pursuant

14

to section 6368 (relating to investigation of reports) or 6375

15

(relating to county agency requirements for general protective

16

services) and take all necessary actions needed to provide for

17

the safety and well-being of the child as provided for under

18

this chapter. If, after all inspections under subsection (b) are

19

completed, a county agency determines the child is no longer in

20

danger of abuse or in need of county services, the child's case

21

shall be closed.

22

(d)  Regulations.--The department shall promulgate

23

regulations necessary to carry out this section.

24

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

- 2 -