An act relating to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group

The purpose language changed from examining 'the Department for Children and Families' rules and policies regarding mandatory reporting' to examining 'rules, and policies regarding the reporting,' removing the specific reference to DCYF and the word 'mandatory.'

Working Group membership was reduced from 8 to 6 members. The Attorney General and Chief Administrative Judge positions changed from serving directly (or by designee) to appointing a member. Two DCYF Family Services Division members were replaced with a single member appointed by the Commissioner for Children and Families. The Prevent Child Abuse Vermont representative and the Vermont Child, Youth, and Family Advocate were removed entirely.

The reporting deadline was moved up from January 15, 2027 to November 1, 2026, giving the Working Group roughly three months less time to complete its work.

The report is now directed to 'the General Assembly' generally rather than to four specific committees (House Human Services, Senate Health and Welfare, and both Judiciary committees).

Removed the requirement that recommendations remain consistent with federal CAPTA standards regarding definitions of abuse and neglect.

Removed the requirement to leverage work from the Children's Justice Act Task Force and the Vermont Citizens Advisory Board (VCAB) to avoid duplicative efforts.

Removed the requirement to consider best practices from other states when developing recommendations.

Removed the entire section on administrative, technical, and legal assistance from DCYF, including the first meeting deadline of August 15, 2026, the requirement to elect a chair, and the five-member quorum rule.

Page headers changed from 'BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.239' to 'AS PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE S.239', and a legislative tracking identifier (VT LEG #389546 v.1) was added to page footers.

The introductory metadata block (sponsor name, committee referral, introduction date, subject line, and statement of purpose as introduced) was removed from the unofficial version, replaced with only the act title and enactment language.

A new legislative findings section (Sec. 1(a)) was added, citing data that Vermont's child welfare referral rate is 166 per 1,000 children versus 50 nationally, only 17 percent of referrals met criteria for further action versus 54 percent nationally, and post-response services were provided to only 28 percent of victims versus 57 percent nationally.

The Working Group's purpose was narrowed from examining 'statutes, rules, and policies regarding the reporting of abuse and neglect' to specifically 'mandatory reporting,' and a new requirement was added that the group consider services and strategies that may be employed prior to a report to assist families before a situation requires a report.

The consult list was updated: 'individuals with lived experience as child victims' was removed (moved to membership), and the Juvenile Division of the Office of the Defender General, the Office of the Attorney General, the Vermont School Counselor's Association, and the Agency of Education were added.

Working Group membership expanded from 8 to 13 members. Added: a member with lived experience as an abused or neglected child, a member with lived experience as an unsubstantiated report subject, the Vermont Child Youth and Family Advocate (moved from consult list), the Director of the Vermont Parent Child Center Network, a certified law enforcement officer from a special investigative unit, a physician co-chair of the Vermont Citizen's Advisory Board, a principal, a children's mental health agency representative, and the Vermont Office of Racial Equity. Removed: the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation, a member appointed by the Attorney General, a member appointed by the Chief Administrative Judge, and one of two DCF Family Services Division members (reduced to one).

The single report deadline of January 15, 2027 was replaced with an interim presentation due April 1, 2027 and a final report due October 1, 2027.

A new subsection (Sec. 1(f)) requires the Working Group to prioritize five specific issues: clarity on statutory definitions for mandatory reporters, consistency between statutes and DCF rules and training, practical implementation challenges, assessment of provisions in 33 V.S.A. sections 4912 and 4913, and identification of alternatives to reporting when in the child's best interests. It also limits the group from expanding its review into unrelated matters.

The quorum provision (five members) was removed from the enacted version.

Members not otherwise compensated are now entitled to per diem compensation and expense reimbursement under 32 V.S.A. section 1010 for up to 12 meetings, paid from DCF appropriations.

A new transparency requirement obligates the Department for Children and Families to post information about the Working Group's efforts on its website, including meeting notices, agendas, public comment procedures, and minutes.

Working Group membership expanded from 6 to 8 members. The Attorney General and Chief Administrative Judge are now named directly (or their designees) rather than appointing a member. The DCF seat was changed from one member appointed by the Commissioner to two members from the Family Services Division appointed by the Deputy Commissioner. Two new seats were added: the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont and the Vermont Child, Youth, and Family Advocate.

A new subsection (c) requires the Working Group to consult with eight categories of stakeholders, including Vermont Children's Alliance, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs, KidSafe Collaborative, Voices for Vermont's Children, Vermont Parent Representation Center, Disability Rights Vermont, medical partners such as UVM's Child Safe Program, and individuals with lived experience as child victims of abuse and neglect.

New requirements mandate that recommendations remain consistent with federal CAPTA minimum standards, that the Working Group leverage existing work by the Children's Justice Act Task Force and the Vermont Citizens Advisory Board (VCAB), and that it consider best practices from other states.

The reporting deadline was extended from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. The report is now directed to specific committees (House Human Services, Senate Health and Welfare, and both Judiciary Committees) rather than to the General Assembly as a whole.

A new subsection (e) provides that DCF shall furnish administrative, technical, and legal assistance to the Working Group. It also sets operational rules: first meeting by August 15, 2026, election of a chair at the first meeting, and a quorum of five members.