Provides that any person charged with enforcing laws prohibiting cruelty to animals shall cause a report to be made when, in the performance of his or her duties, such person has reasonable cause to believe that abuse or maltreatment of a child has also occurred; provides that a person charged with the responsibility of filing a report of child abuse or maltreatment shall also file a report of suspected animal cruelty.
Establishes a council on children and families within the executive department; moves such council from the office of children and family services; defines terms; authorizes the governor to designate the executive director of such council; makes related provisions.
Requires inspections of child day care homes, programs and facilities include the full premises; requires providers of a family day care home or group family day care home to disclose to the office of children and family services all persons who reside in the home where child day care is being provided; requires all providers of child day care to receive training for, provide and maintain onsite opioid antagonists for use during emergencies.
Authorizes and directs the office of children and family services to conduct a study on the family assessment response program; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
Requires the court making a determination of the best interest of the child in custody matters to consider evidence that a child is enrolled in, or that either parent intends to enroll the child in, a nonpublic elementary or secondary school that is noncompliant with the academic requirements set forth in the education law.
Removes certain requirements on what the office of children and family services can determine to be an appropriate staff/child ratios for family day care homes, group family day care homes, school age day care programs and day care centers.
Establishes procedures regarding orders of post-termination visitation and/or contact between a child and such child's parent and for modification of such orders.
Provides that a caregiver shall be eligible for assistance for child care under the child care block grant regardless of the hours the parent actually works.
Authorizes school officials to temporarily retain custody of a suspected abused or maltreated child until a police or child protective services official arrives to determine whether it is safe to return the child to the parent or guardian.
Directs the office of children and family services, in consultation with the office for the prevention of domestic violence, to establish a statewide supervised visitation initiative including culturally sensitive services that provide language access for those who need it and that are affordable for those with limited means to pay; requires the submission of regular assessments and reports.
Requires that every court, and every public board, commission, institution, or officer having powers or charged with duties in relation to abandoned, delinquent, destitute, neglected or dependent children who shall receive, accept or commit any child shall provide and keep a record showing if such child has a developmental disability; requires a study of the number of children in foster care who have a developmental disability.