SB 436 — An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for definitions, for reporting procedure, for disposition of complaints received, for responsibility for investigation, for access to information in Statewide database, for information in Statewide database and for release of information in confidential reports.

PRINTER'S NO.    406

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         SENATE BILL
                         No. 436
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, BARTOLOTTA, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, SCHWANK,
        TARTAGLIONE, ROBINSON, PHILLIPS-HILL, COSTA, HAYWOOD,
        J. WARD, BAKER, BROWN, DUSH AND FARRY, MARCH 17, 2025

     REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 17, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further
 3      providing for definitions, for reporting procedure, for
 4      disposition of complaints received, for responsibility for
 5      investigation, for access to information in Statewide
 6      database, for information in Statewide database and for
 7      release of information in confidential reports.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.     Section 6303(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
11   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
12   § 6303.    Definitions.
13      (a)    General rule.--The following words and phrases when used
14   in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this
15   section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
16      * * *
17      "Concerns a military family."     In a report:
18             (1)   an alleged perpetrator of abuse is a service member,
19      spouse of a service member or child of a service member; or
20             (2)   an alleged victim of abuse is a child of a service
 1      member.
 2      * * *
 3      "Family Advocacy Program."      The program established by the
 4   United States Department of Defense to address child abuse and
 5   neglect, problematic sexual behavior in children and youth and
 6   domestic abuse in military families.
 7      * * *
 8      "Service member."     A person serving in the armed forces of
 9   the United States or reserve component of the armed forces of
10   the United States or the Pennsylvania National Guard.
11      * * *
12      Section 2.     Section 6313(b) of Title 23 is amended by adding
13   a paragraph to read:
14   § 6313.    Reporting procedure.
15      * * *
16      (b)    Contents of report.--A written report of suspected child
17   abuse, which may be submitted electronically, shall include the
18   following information, if known:
19             * * *
20             (5.1)   Whether the report concerns a military family and,
21      if so, any necessary explanatory information.
22             * * *
23      Section 3.     Sections 6334(a) and (b), 6334.1(4) and 6335(a)
24   of Title 23 are amended to read:
25   § 6334.    Disposition of complaints received.
26      (a)    Receipt of reports by county agencies and law
27   enforcement.--After ensuring the immediate safety of the child
28   and any other child in the child's home, a county agency or law
29   enforcement official that receives a report of suspected child
30   abuse shall immediately notify the department of the report. If

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 1   the report is an oral report by telephone, the county agency or
 2   law enforcement official shall attempt to collect as much of the
 3   information listed in section [6313(c)] 6313(b) (relating to
 4   reporting procedure) as possible and shall submit the
 5   information to the department within 48 hours through a report
 6   in writing or by electronic technologies.
 7      (b)   Receipt of reports by department and referral to county
 8   agency; notification of Family Advocacy Program
 9   representative.--The department shall immediately transmit an
10   oral notice or a notice by electronic technologies to the county
11   agency of the county where the suspected child abuse is alleged
12   to have occurred. If the report concerns a military family, the
13   department shall also notify the Family Advocacy Program
14   representative for the Commonwealth and the designated Family
15   Advocacy Program representative of the assigned military
16   installation. The notice shall contain the following
17   information:
18            (1)    That a report of suspected child abuse by a
19      perpetrator has been received.
20            (2)    The substance of the report.
21            (3)    The existence in the Statewide database of a prior
22      report or a current investigation or assessment concerning a
23      subject of the report.
24      * * *
25   § 6334.1.      Responsibility for investigation.
26      The department shall establish procedures regarding the
27   following different responses to address suspected child abuse
28   and protective services depending on the person's allegedly
29   committing the suspected child abuse or causing a child to be in
30   need of protective services:

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 1             * * *
 2             (4)   If a child is alleged to be in need of other
 3      protective services, the appropriate county agency, in
 4      coordination with the appropriate Family Advocacy Program
 5      representative, if applicable, shall assess the needs of the
 6      child as provided in this chapter.
 7   § 6335.    Access to information in Statewide database.
 8      (a)    Request for information.--A county agency, Family
 9   Advocacy Program representative or law enforcement official
10   shall use the Statewide toll-free telephone number, or any
11   manner prescribed by the department, to determine the existence
12   of any prior reports involving a subject of the report. If the
13   Statewide database contains information related to a report or a
14   pending investigation or assessment concerning a subject of the
15   report, the department shall immediately convey this information
16   to the county agency, Family Advocacy Program representative or
17   law enforcement official.
18      * * *
19      Section 4.     Sections 6336(a) and 6340(a) of Title 23 are
20   amended by adding paragraphs to read:
21   § 6336.    Information in Statewide database.
22      (a)    Information authorized.--The Statewide database shall
23   include and shall be limited to the following information:
24             * * *
25             (6.1)   Whether the report concerns a military family and,
26      if so, any necessary explanatory information.
27             * * *
28   § 6340.    Release of information in confidential reports.
29      (a)    General rule.--Reports specified in section 6339
30   (relating to confidentiality of reports) shall only be made

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1   available to:
2          * * *
3          (19)     If the report concerns a military family, the
4      Family Advocacy Program representative for the Commonwealth
5      or to the designated Family Advocacy Program representative
6      for the assigned military installation.
7      * * *
8      Section 5.    This act shall take effect in one year.




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