HB 976 Modifies provisions relating to children, including immunization, amino acid-based elemental formula, court orders, juveniles with problem sexual behavior, safe sleep protocols, and the Children's Services Fund

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Current Bill Summary

- Prepared by Senate Research -


SCS/HCS/HB 976 - This act modifies several provisions relating to the protection of children including: (1) amino acid-based elemental formula; (2) notice of non-immunized children in day care, pre-schools, and nursery schools; (3) provision of notice to the Children's Division; (4) juveniles with problem sexual behavior; (5) safe sleep recommendations; and (6) the Children's Services Fund.

AMINO ACID-BASED ELEMENTAL FORMULA (Section 192.390)

This act requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to provide coverage, through state and federal appropriations, for the full cost of amino acid-based elemental formulas for children under 19 years with a medical diagnosis of specified allergies, syndromes, or disorders. The Department shall not provide coverage for children who are already receiving coverage for the formula through MO HealthNet; the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC); or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

This provision is identical to provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 354 (2015) and substantially similar to provisions in SCS/HB 556 (2015), SS/SCS/HB 556 (2015), SS/SCS/SB 354 (2015). This provision is similar to provisions in SCS/SB 354 (2015), SB 354 (2015), and HB 665 (2015).

NOTICE OF NON-IMMUNIZATION (Section 210.003)

This act requires all public, private, and parochial day care centers, preschools, and nursery schools to notify parents or guardians, upon request, of whether there are children currently enrolled in or attending the facility for whom an immunization exemption has been filed.

This provision is identical to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 341 (2015) and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 354 (2015) and substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SB 533 (2015) and SB 533 (2015).

PROVISION OF NOTICE TO THE CHILDREN'S DIVISION (Section 210.118)

This act requires the clerk of a court, when the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a party is responsible for child abuse or neglect, to send a certified copy of the judgment or order to the Children's Division and to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. Upon receipt of the order, the Children's Division shall list the individual as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect in the central registry. The clerk and Children's Division shall do the same in cases where an individual has been found guilty of certain specified crimes including murder, manslaughter, assault, child abandonment, or sexual offenses against children or an attempt to commit such crimes.

This provision is identical to provisions in SS/SCS/HB 556 (2015) and substantially similar to provisions in SB 525 (2015), HB 475 (2015), SCS/HB 556 (2015), and HB 556 (2015).

JUVENILES WITH PROBLEM SEXUAL BEHAVIOR (Section 210.148)

This act provides that when the Children's Division receives a report concerning a juvenile with problem sexual behavior, the division shall immediately communicate the report to the appropriate local office, which will then use a family assessment and services approach to respond to the report. For the purposes of family assessments performed under this act, the alleged abuse does not have to be committed by a person responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child.

Nothing in this act prevents the local office from commencing an investigation if, during the family assessment and services approach, the local office determines that an investigation is warranted. Such an investigation may include requesting assistance from the appropriate law enforcement agency. A juvenile with problem sexual behavior is defined as any person, under fourteen years of age, who has allegedly committed sexual abuse against another child.

These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 341 (2015), SCS/SB 341 (2015), SCS/HCS/HB 734 (2015), SS/SCS/HB 556 (2015), and SCS/HB 556 (2015), and substantially similar to provisions in SB 341 (2015) and HB 713 (2015).

SAFE SLEEP RECOMMENDATIONS (Sections 210.221 and 210.223)

This act grants the Department of Health and Senior Services the power to approve training concerning the safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. All licensed child care facilities that provide care for children under one year of age shall implement and maintain a written safe sleep policy in accordance with those recommendations, as well as provide necessary training for all employees and volunteers. If, in the opinion of the infant's licensed health care provider, the infant requires alternative or special sleeping arrangements that differ from those set forth by the most recent sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the infant's health care provider shall provide written and signed instructions detailing the alternative sleep positions or special sleeping arrangements and the facility shall follow these instructions.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 341 (2015), SCS/SB 427 (2015), SB 427 (2015), HCS/SB 533 (2015), and HB 707 (2015).

CHILDREN'S SERVICES FUND (Section 210.861)

Under current law, an individual who has been elected treasurer by the board of directors of a community Children's Services Fund shall, prior to taking office, furnish a surety bond that meets specified requirements. This act adds the option of furnishing comparable insurance coverage for theft, misappropriation, mismanagement, or other acts that otherwise meet the specified requirements for a surety bond under these

provisions. The state legislature shall not mandate the board to expend funds without a majority vote of the county, excluding St. Louis County, or city not within a county.

This act also prohibits any county, excluding St. Louis County, or city not within a county where voters have approved the levy of a tax under these provisions from adding services in addition to those currently permitted by the provisions of the bill at the time the levy is approved by voters unless the voters approve the additional services.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HB 1045 (2015) and HCS/SCS/SB 341 (2015).

SARAH HASKINS


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