Child abuse reporting: cross-reporting among local agencies.

Existing law requires a county probation or welfare department to immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, report to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the case, to the agency given responsibility for investigation of child welfare cases, and to the district attorney's office every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, as specified. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the law enforcement agencies and the county welfare or probation department of each county develop and implement cooperative arrangements in order to coordinate existing duties in connection with the investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect cases. Existing law requires a local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over a reported case of child abuse to report to the county welfare or probation department that it is investigating the case, and requires the county welfare department or probation department, in certain cases, to evaluate what action or actions would be in the best interest of the child and to submit its findings to the district attorney, as specified. This bill would, no later than January 1, 2029, require each county to establish a private and secure online database for cross-reporting substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect. The bill would require each county to develop a process for a person to petition to have his or her name removed from the database if the report regarding the individual is unsubstantiated. The bill would require each database to be implemented with policies to oversee the sharing of information, including, but not limited to, cross-reporting among the county welfare department, the district attorney's office, and local law enforcement agencies, to ensure that each agency carries out its mandated investigative response to reports of child abuse or neglect. The bill would require unsubstantiated reports to be purged from the database. The bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding reporting child abuse and neglect. By imposing new duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.