SB 640

Department of Social Services; corrective action plans and assumption of temporary control of local boards and local departments; centralized intake system for reports or complaints of child abuse or neglect. Creates a centralized system for intake for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and grants the Commissioner of Social Services the authority to create and enforce a corrective action plan for any local board of social services or local department of social services that (i) fails to administer public assistance and social services programs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations or (ii) takes any action or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child or adult. The bill permits similar authority for any local board of social services that (a) fails to provide child welfare services in accordance with applicable law or regulations or (b) takes any action or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child. Under the bill, if a local board or department fails to comply with a corrective action plan, the Commissioner has the authority to temporarily assume control over all or part of the local board's or department's child welfare services and associated funds. The bill directs the Department of Social Services to be the agency responsible for the intake of reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and specifies that the Department shall determine the validity of such reports and complaints. Under current law, local departments of social services are the agencies responsible for the intake of reports and complaints of child abuse and they determine the validity of such reports and complaints. The bill eliminates the requirement that local departments must be capable of receiving and responding to reports and complaints of abuse or neglect and instead requires that any complaint of child abuse or neglect received by a local department shall be immediately forwarded to the Department's child abuse and neglect intake system. The bill directs the Department of Social Services to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the State Board of Social Services to promulgate regulations to require that local departments of social services (1) respond to valid reports and complaints alleging suspected abuse or neglect of a child under the age of three within 24 hours of receiving such reports or complaints and (2) investigate and determine the validity of complaints alleging suspected abuse or neglect of children under the age of three and children with disabilities. The bill also adds adult services to the definition of 'social services' for purposes of Title 63.2 (Welfare (Social Services)).