FIRST REGULAR SESSION
[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE NO. 2 FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 155
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
2005
0716S.09T
AN ACT
To repeal sections 210.117, 210.152, 210.710, 210.720, and 211.038, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof five sections relating to reporting of child abuse and neglect.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 210.117, 210.152, 210.710, 210.720, and 211.038, RSMo, are repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 210.117, 210.152, 210.710, 210.720, and 211.038, to read as follows:
210.117. 1. No child taken into the custody of the state shall be reunited with a parent or placed in a home in which the parent or any person residing in the home has been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, a felony violation of chapter 566, RSMo, except for section 566.034, RSMo, when a child was the victim, or a violation of section 568.020, 568.045, 568.060, 568.065, 568.070, 568.080, 568.090, or 568.175, RSMo, except for subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 568.060, RSMo, when a child was the victim, or an offense committed in another state when a child is the victim, that would be a felony violation of chapter 566, RSMo, except for section 566.034, RSMo, or a violation of section 568.020, 568.045, 568.060, 568.065, 568.070, 568.080, 568.090, or 568.175, RSMo, except for subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 568.060, RSMo, if committed in Missouri; provided however, nothing in this section shall preclude the division from exercising its discretion regarding the placement of a child in a home in which the parent or any person residing in the home has been found guilty of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any offense excepted or excluded in this section.
2. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines, or the division determines, based on a substantiated report of child abuse that is upheld by the child abuse and neglect review board, that a minor has abused another child, such minor shall be prohibited from returning to or residing in any residence located within one thousand feet of the residence of the abused child, or any child care facility or school that the abused child attends, until the abused child reaches eighteen years of age. The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply where the alleged abuse occurred between siblings.
210.152. 1. All identifying information, including telephone reports reported pursuant to section 210.145, relating to reports of abuse or neglect received by the division shall be retained by the division and removed from the records of the division as follows:
(1) For investigation reports contained in the central registry, identifying information shall be retained by the division;
(2) [For investigation reports initiated by a person required to report pursuant to section 210.115, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for five years from the date of the report. For all other investigation reports where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for two years from the date of the report. Such report shall include any exculpatory evidence known by the division, including exculpatory evidence obtained after the closing of the case. At the end of such two-year period, the identifying information shall be removed from the records of the division and destroyed;]
(a) For investigation reports initiated against a person required to report pursuant to section 210.115, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division and where the division determines the allegation of abuse or neglect was made maliciously, for purposes of harassment or in retaliation for the filing of a report by a person required to report, identifying information shall be expunged by the division within forty-five days from the conclusion of the investigation;
(b) For investigation reports, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division and where the division determines the allegation of abuse or neglect was made maliciously, for purposes of harassment or in retaliation for the filing of a report, identifying information shall be expunged by the division within forty-five days from the conclusion of the investigation;
(c) For investigation reports initiated by a person required to report under section 210.015, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for five years from the conclusion of the investigation. For all other investigation reports where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for two years from the conclusion of the investigation. Such reports shall include any exculpatory evidence known by the division, including exculpatory evidence obtained after the closing of the case. At the end of such time period, the identifying information shall be removed from the records of the division and destroyed;
(3) For reports where the division uses the family assessment and services approach, identifying information shall be retained by the division;
(4) For reports in which the division is unable to locate the child alleged to have been abused or neglected, identifying information shall be retained for ten years from the date of the report and then shall be removed from the records of the division.
2. Within ninety days after receipt of a report of abuse or neglect that is investigated, the alleged perpetrator named in the report and the parents of the child named in the report, if the alleged perpetrator is not a parent, shall be notified in writing of any determination made by the division based on the investigation. The notice shall advise either:
(1) That the division has determined by a probable cause finding prior to August 28, 2004, or by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, that abuse or neglect exists and that the division shall retain all identifying information regarding the abuse or neglect; that such information shall remain confidential and will not be released except to law enforcement agencies, prosecuting or circuit attorneys, or as provided in section 210.150; that the alleged perpetrator has sixty days from the date of receipt of the notice to seek reversal of the division's determination through a review by the child abuse and neglect review board as provided in subsection 3 of this section; or
(2) That the division has not made a probable cause finding or determined by a preponderance of the evidence that abuse or neglect exists.
3. Any person named in an investigation as a perpetrator who is aggrieved by a determination of abuse or neglect by the division as provided in this section may seek an administrative review by the child abuse and neglect review board pursuant to the provisions of section 210.153. Such request for review shall be made within sixty days of notification of the division's decision under this section. In those cases where criminal charges arising out of facts of the investigation are pending, the request for review shall be made within sixty days from the court's final disposition or dismissal of the charges.
4. In any such action for administrative review, the child abuse and neglect review board shall sustain the division's determination if such determination was supported by evidence of probable cause prior to August 28, 2004, or is supported by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, and is not against the weight of such evidence. The child abuse and neglect review board hearing shall be closed to all persons except the parties, their attorneys and those persons providing testimony on behalf of the parties.
5. If the alleged perpetrator is aggrieved by the decision of the child abuse and neglect review board, the alleged perpetrator may seek de novo judicial review in the circuit court in the county in which the alleged perpetrator resides and in circuits with split venue, in the venue in which the alleged perpetrator resides, or in Cole County. If the alleged perpetrator is not a resident of the state, proper venue shall be in Cole County. The case may be assigned to the family court division where such a division has been established. The request for a judicial review shall be made within sixty days of notification of the decision of the child abuse and neglect review board decision. In reviewing such decisions, the circuit court shall provide the alleged perpetrator the opportunity to appear and present testimony. The alleged perpetrator may subpoena any witnesses except the alleged victim or the reporter. However, the circuit court shall have the discretion to allow the parties to submit the case upon a stipulated record.
6. In any such action for administrative review, the child abuse and neglect review board shall notify the child or the parent, guardian or legal representative of the child that a review has been requested.
210.710. 1. In the case of a child who has been committed to the care of an authorized agency by a parent, guardian or relative and where such child has remained in the care of one or more authorized agencies for a continuous period of six months, the agency shall petition the juvenile court in the county where the child is present to review the status of the child. A written report on the status of the child shall be presented to the court. The court shall then review the status of the child and may hold a dispositional hearing thereon. The purpose of the dispositional hearing shall be to determine whether or not the child should be continued in foster care or whether the child should be returned to a parent, guardian or relative, or whether or not proceedings should be instituted to terminate parental right and legally free such child for adoption.
2. If the child is in the care of an authorized agency based on an allegation that the child has abused another child and the court determines that such abuse occurred, the court shall not return the child to or permit the child to reside in any residence located within one thousand feet of the residence of the abused child, or any child care facility or school that the abused child attends, until the abused child reaches eighteen years of age. The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply where the alleged abuse occurred between siblings.
210.720. 1. In the case of a child who has been placed in the custody of the division of family services in accordance with subdivision (17) of subsection 1 of section 207.020, RSMo, or another authorized agency by a court or who has been placed in foster care by a court, every six months after the placement, the foster family, group home, agency, or child care institution with which the child is placed shall file with the court a written report on the status of the child. The court shall review the report and shall hold a permanency hearing within twelve months of initial placement and at least annually thereafter. The permanency hearing shall be for the purpose of determining in accordance with the best interests of the child a permanent plan for the placement of the child, including whether or not the child should be continued in foster care or whether the child should be returned to a parent, guardian or relative, or whether or not proceedings should be instituted by either the juvenile officer or the division to terminate parental rights and legally free such child for adoption.
2. In such permanency hearings the court shall consider all relevant factors including:
(1) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's foster parents, parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests;
(2) The child's adjustment to his or her foster home, school and community;
(3) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved, including any history of abuse of any individuals involved. If the child is in the care of an authorized agency based on an allegation that the child has abused another child and the court determines that such abuse occurred, the court shall not return the child to or permit the child to reside in any residence located within one thousand feet of the residence of the abused child, or any child care facility or school that the abused child attends, until the abused child reaches eighteen years of age. The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply where the alleged abuse occurred between siblings; and
(4) The needs of the child for a continuing relationship with the child's parents and the ability and willingness of parents to actively perform their functions as mother and father for the needs of the child.
3. The judge shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law in any order pertaining to the placement of the child.
211.038. 1. No child under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court shall be reunited with a parent or placed in a home in which the parent or any person residing in the home has been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, a felony violation of chapter 566, RSMo, except for section 566.034, RSMo, when a child was the victim, or a violation of sections 568.020, 568.045, 568.060, 568.065, 568.070, 568.080, 568.090, and 568.175, RSMo, except for subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 568.060, RSMo, when a child was the victim, or an offense committed in another state when a child is the victim, that would be a felony violation of chapter 566, RSMo, except for section 566.034, RSMo, or a violation of sections 568.020, 568.045, 568.060, 568.065, 568.070, 568.080, 568.090, and 568.175, RSMo, except for subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 568.060, RSMo, if committed in Missouri; provided however, nothing in this section shall preclude the juvenile court from exercising its discretion regarding the placement of a child in a home in which the parent or any person residing in the home has been found guilty of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any offense excepted or excluded in this section.
2. If the juvenile court determines that a minor has abused another child, such minor shall be prohibited from returning to or residing in any residence located within one thousand feet of the residence of the abused child, or any child care facility or school that the abused child attends, until the abused child reaches eighteen years of age. The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply where the alleged abuse occurred between siblings.