An act relating to amending the bases and process of child abuse and neglect investigations

This bill (H 213) expands Vermont's legal definitions of child abuse and neglect to include "torture of a child" and specific new investigatory bases like lewd conduct involving children, domestic violence occurring in front of a child, and sexual offenses. It requires child protective services to collaborate with child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams during investigations and clarifies when investigations - not just assessments - are needed (e.g., for sexual abuse, abandonment, or serious injury). The bill directly affects child protective agencies, law enforcement, and child advocacy centers by modifying their processes for responding to reports. It creates concrete policy changes in how cases are categorized and handled, without altering penalties for existing offenses.