An act relating to child abuse and neglect investigation and substantiation standards and procedures

This bill updates Vermont's child abuse and neglect investigation procedures and establishes a tiered Child Protection Registry to balance child safety with employment considerations for those with substantiated allegations. It requires investigators to conduct thorough, unbiased investigations that include home visits, interviews with children (sometimes without parental approval), and assessments of risk to all children in the household. The bill also clarifies that a "substantiated report" means there is sufficient evidence to believe abuse or neglect occurred, and it allows the Department to place substantiated cases on the Registry immediately in cases of sexual or serious physical abuse while permitting administrative review.