Revises provisions relating to the protection of children. (BDR 40-1099)

Existing law establishes the Statewide Central Registry for the Collection of Information Concerning the Abuse or Neglect of a Child, which contains information regarding any substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made pursuant to existing law. Existing law authorizes the Division of Child and Family Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to release information contained in the Statewide Central Registry to an employer under certain circumstances to determine whether a person whose background is being investigated by the employer has been found to have abused or neglected a child. (NRS 432.100) Section 1 of this bill defines “Statewide Central Registry” as the Statewide Central Registry for the Collection of Information Concerning the Abuse or Neglect of a Child. Section 2 of this bill applies the definitions in existing law and section 1 to the provisions of sections 3-7 of this bill. Sections 3 and 4 require an applicant for a license, a license holder and certain employees and independent contractors of certain facilities to provide written authorization for the release of any information within the immediately preceding 5 years that may be stored in the Statewide Central Registry to determine whether there has been a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made against the person. Section 5 similarly requires certain employees and independent contractors of certain intermediary service organizations to provide written authorization for the release of any information within the immediately preceding 5 years that may be stored in the Statewide Central Registry to determine whether there has been a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made against the person. Section 6 requires the holder of a certificate to operate an intermediary service organization to terminate the employment of a person who has had a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made against him or her. Section 7 authorizes the Division to deny, suspend or revoke a certificate to operate an intermediary service organization if the holder of the certificate: (1) has continued to employ a person who has had a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made against him or her; or (2) has had a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made against him or her.