Wednesday, January 2, 2013

CHAPTER 3490. PROTECTIVE SERVICES

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Ch.  3490                             PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                                  55

                         CHAPTER 3490.  PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Subch.                                                                                                        Sec.

A.        CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES                          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3490.1

B.         ABUSE OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL                          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3490.141

C.         GENERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES                            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3490.201

D.        GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE

           SERVICES AND GENERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                        . . . . . . .   3490.301

                                                    Authority

   The provisions of this Chapter 3490 issued under Articles VII and IX of the Public Welfare Code

(62 P. S. §  701—774 and 901—922); 42 Pa.C.S. §§             6301—6365; section 2168 of the County Code

(16 P. S. §  2168); section 405 of the County Institution District Law (62 P. S. §          2305); and the Child

Protective Services Law, 23 Pa.C.S. §§  6301—6385, unless otherwise noted.

                                                     Source

   The  provisions  of  this  Chapter  3490  adopted  December  20,  1985,  effective  January  1,  1986,  15

Pa.B. 4547, unless otherwise noted.

                                              Notes of Decisions

Class Certification

   Class  certification  should  have  been  granted  to  a  putative  class  of  children  in  the  legal  care  and

custody  of  Philadelphia’s  Department  of  Human  Services,  who  sought  declaratory  and  injunctive

relief  against  the  officials  responsible  for  operation  of  the  child  welfare  system  based  on  systemic

failures and violations of these regulations. Baby Neal ex rel. Kanter v. Casey, 43 F.3d 48, 30 Fed. R.

Serv. 3d (Callaghan) 1469 (3rd Cir. 1994).

                                               Cross References

   This chapter cited in 55 Pa. Code §       168.45 (relating to verification of suspected child abuse); 55

Pa. Code §    3041.86 (relating to child abuse reporting); 55 Pa. Code §  3130.31 (relating to responsi-

bilities of  the  county   agency);   55  Pa. Code    §  3130.38   (relating  to  other  required   services);   55

Pa. Code §  3130.43 (relating to family case records); 55 Pa. Code §  3130.44 (relating to confidenti-

ality of  family   case  records);  55   Pa. Code   §  3130.51   (relating  to  hiring  practices);  55  Pa. Code

§  3130.68  (relating  to  visiting  and  communications  policies);  55  Pa.Code  §        3140.22  (relating  to

reimbursable services and reimbursement rates); 55 Pa. Code §           3270.32 (relating to suitability of per-

sons  in  the  facility);  55  Pa. Code  § 3280.32  (relating  to  suitability  of  persons  in  the  facility);  55

Pa. Code §  3290.32 (relating to suitability of persons in the facility); 55 Pa. Code §  3680.22 (relat-

ing  to  hiring  practices,  public  and  private  agencies);  55  Pa. Code  §  3680.35  (relating  to  release  of

information in client records); 55 Pa. Code §        3680.62 (relating to service relationship with a county

agency);  55  Pa. Code  §  3700.62  (relating  to  foster  parent  requirements);  55  Pa. Code  §          3700.73

(relating to foster parent appeal of child relocation); 55 Pa. Code §        3800.15 (relating to child abuse);

55 Pa. Code §     3800.51 (relating to child abuse and criminal history checks); 55 Pa. Code §              3800.52

(relating to staff hiring, retention and utilization); 55 Pa. Code §  3800.58 (relating to staff training);

55 Pa. Code §    4226.31 (relating to Child Protective Services Law); 55 Pa. Code §           5310.151 (relating

to client rights); 55 Pa. Code §  6000.25 (relating to additional requirements); 55 Pa. Code §  6000.26

(relating to available materials); and 55 Pa. Code §  6000.32 (relating to provisional hiring process).

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(312161)  No. 369        Aug.  05

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55                       CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

                Subchapter A.  CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES

                                       INTRODUCTION

Sec.

3490.1.     Applicability.

3490.2.     Purposes.

3490.3.     Legal base.

3490.4.     Definitions.

3490.5.     Waivers.

                                          REPORTERS

3490.11.   Reporting suspected child abuse.

3490.12.   Required reporters.

3490.13.   Reports by employes who are required reporters.

3490.14.   Privileged communication.

3490.15.   Taking a child into protective custody.

3490.16.   Notifying the county agency.

3490.17.   Notifying the child’s parents, guardians or other custodians.

3490.18.   Filing of a written report by a required reporter.

3490.19.   Reporting to the coroner.

3490.20.   Other medical information.

3490.21.   Release of information on prior child abuse reports.

                        DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

3490.31.   Receipt of reports.

3490.32.   ChildLine reporting to the county agency.

3490.33.   Files.

3490.34.   Pending complaint file.

3490.35.   Statewide Central Register.

3490.36.   Providing information to the county agency.

3490.37.   Release of information: Statewide Central Register, pending complaint file and

            file of unfounded reports.

3490.38.   Authorized studies of child abuse data.

3490.39.   Expunction from the Statewide Central Register.

3490.40.   Notifications regarding indicated reports.

3490.40a    Notifications regarding founded reports.

3490.41.   Determination of time.

3490.42.   Performance audit and reviews.

3490.43.   (Reserved).

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(312162)  No. 369    Aug.  05                                 Copyright  2005 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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Ch.  3490                      PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                     55

                            COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES

3490.51.  [Reserved].

3490.52.  Receipt of reports.

3490.53.  Functions of the county agency for child protective services.

3490.54.  Independent investigation of reports.

3490.55.  Investigation of reports of suspected child abuse.

3490.56.  County  agency  investigation  of  suspected  child  abuse  perpetrated  by  persons

           employed or supervised by child care services and residential facilities.

3490.57.  Protective custody.

3490.58.  Notifications.

3490.59.  Action by the county agency after determining the status of the report.

3490.60.  Services available through the county agency.

3490.61.  Supervisory review and child contacts.

3490.62.  Repeated child abuse.

3490.63.  [Reserved].

3490.64.  [Reserved].

3490.65.  [Reserved].

3490.66.  [Reserved].

3490.67.  Written reports to ChildLine.

3490.68.  Retention of information on unfounded reports.

3490.69.  Reports not received within 60-calendar days.

3490.70.  Expunction and amendment of report by the county agency.

3490.71.  Guardian ad litem and court designated advocate.

3490.72.  [Reserved].

3490.73.  Petitioning the court.

           CHILD ABUSE BY AGENTS OF THE COUNTY AGENCY

3490.81.  Responsibilities of the Department and the county agency.

                                   CONFIDENTIALITY

3490.91.  Persons to whom child abuse information shall be made available.

3490.92.  Requests by and referrals to law enforcement officials.

3490.93.  Requests by designated county officials.

3490.94.  Release of the identity of a person who made a report of child abuse or coop-

           erated in a subsequent investigation.

3490.95.  Release of information to required reporters.

   GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES

3490.101.  Sanctions.

3490.102.  Criminal liability for breach of confidentiality.

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55                       CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                        Pt.  V

3490.103.  Nonabuse reports  received  by  the  county  agency  or  other public  agency  from

            ChildLine.

3490.104.  Release of information to a subject of a report.

3490.105.  Request    by  the  subject  of  a founded    or indicated   report  for expunction    or

            amendment of an abuse report when the report was received by ChildLine prior

            to July 1, 1995.

3490.105a.Request  by  a  perpetrator  to  amend  or  expunge  an  indicated  report  of  child

            abuse received by ChildLine after June 30, 1995.

3490.106.  Hearings  and  appeals  proceedings  for  reports  received  by  ChildLine  prior  to

            July 1, 1995.

3490.106a.Hearings and appeals proceedings for indicated reports received by ChildLine

            after June 30, 1995.

3490.107.  Notification  of  Secretary’s  decision  to  amend  or  expunge  a  report  of  child

            abuse.

3490.108.  Cooperation of county agencies and law enforcement agencies.

3490.109.  Report from law enforcement agencies.

                      VERIFICATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF

               CHILD ABUSE AND STUDENT ABUSE RECORDS

                            FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES

3490.121.  Definitions.

3490.122.  Responsibilities of an applicant, prospective operator or legal entity of a child

            care service.

3490.123.  Responsibilities of prospective adoptive parents, prospective foster parents, fos-

            ter family care agencies and adoption investigators.

3490.124.  Departmental procedures for replying to a request for verification.

3490.125.  Voluntary certification of child caretakers.

3490.126.  Sanctions.

3490.127.  Information relating to prospective child care personnel.

                      VERIFICATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF

               CHILD ABUSE AND STUDENT ABUSE RECORDS

                               FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYES

3490.131.  Definitions.

3490.132.  Responsibilities of an administrator.

3490.133.  Responsibilities of an applicant.

3490.134.  Information relating to prospective school employes.

3490.135.  Responsibilities of the Department.

3490.136.  Sanctions.

                                         Cross References

   This subchapter cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.321 (relating to standards for risk assessment).

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.1

                                       INTRODUCTION

§  3490.1.  Applicability.

   This chapter applies to the Department; other departments, boards, bureaus and

agencies of the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions; county chil-

dren and youth social service agencies and other agencies providing services to

children and youth; law enforcement officials; county executive officers; auditors

of the Federal government; public and nonpublic schools; intermediate units; area

vocational-technical schools; independent school contractors; and persons who, in

the course of their employment or occupation or in the practice of their profes-

sion, come into contact with children.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.1 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211714) to (211715).

§  3490.2.  Purposes.

   The purposes of this subchapter are to:

     (1)    Protect abused children from further abuse.

     (2)    Preserve and stabilize families.

     (3)    Implement the CPSL.

     (4)    Involve law enforcement agencies in responding to child abuse.

     (5)    Prioritize the response and services to children most at risk.

     (6)    Encourage more complete reporting of suspected child abuse.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.2 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211715).

§  3490.3.  Legal base.

   The legal base of this chapter is the following statutory provisions:

     (1)    Articles VII and IX of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. §§  701—774

   and 901—922).

     (2)    Chapter 63 of 42 Pa.C.S. (relating to the Juvenile Act).

     (3)    Section 2168 of the County Code (16 P. S. §              2168).

     (4)    Section 405 of the County Institution District Law (62 P. S. §                2305).

     (5)    The CPSL, 23 Pa.C.S. §§  6301—6385 (relating to the Child Protective

   Services Law).

                                              Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.3 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211715).

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55 § 3490.4             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

§  3490.4.  Definitions.

   The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following

meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

     Accept for service—The county agency decides on the basis of the needs and

   problems of an individual to admit or receive the individual as a client of the

   agency or as required by a court order entered under the Juvenile Act.

     Agent  of  the  county  agency—A person  who  provides  a  children  and  youth

   social  service  either  directly  or  under  contract  or  through  agreement  with  a

   county agency.

        (i)     An agent of the county agency includes:

           (A)   Preadoptive parents.

           (B)   Foster parents.

           (C)   Staff  and  volunteers  of  public  and  private  residential  child  care

        facilities.

           (D)   Staff and volunteers of public and private day care centers, group

        day care homes and family day care homes.

           (E)   Staff and volunteers of public and private social service agencies.

           (F)   Staff and volunteers of county detention centers.

           (G)   Persons residing in the home of foster or preadoptive parents.

           (H)   A  school  employe  of  a  facility  or  agency  that  is  an  agent  of  a

        county agency.

        (ii)    The  term  does  not  include  staff  of  Commonwealth-operated  youth

     development centers and youth forestry camps.

     Arrange—Make a service available to a client accepted for service through

   another agency or service provider which is not paid for by the county agency.

     Certified medical practitioner—A licensed physician, a licensed physician’s

   assistant or a certified registered nurse practitioner.

     CPSL—The Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa.C.S. §§  6301—6385.

     Child—A person under 18 years of age.

     Child abuse—

        (i)     The term child abuse means any of the following:

           (A)   Any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes non-

        accidental serious physical injury to a child.

           (B)   An act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes nonacciden-

        tal serious mental injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.

           (C)   A recent act, failure to act or series of the acts or failures to act by

        a perpetrator which creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to

        or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.

           (D)   Serious physical neglect by a perpetrator constituting prolonged or

        repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide the essentials of life,

        including adequate medical care, which endangers a child’s life or devel-

        opment or impairs the child’s functioning.

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Ch.  3490                      PROTECTIVE SERVICES                             55 § 3490.4

        (ii)   A  child  will  not  be  deemed  to  be  physically  or  mentally  abused

     based   on  injuries   that  result solely   from   environmental     factors  that  are

     beyond the control of the parent or person responsible for the child’s welfare,

     such as inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and medical care.

        (iii)  If, upon investigation, the county agency determines that a child has

     not been provided needed medical or surgical care because of seriously held

     religious beliefs of the child’s parents, guardian or person responsible for the

     child’s  welfare,  which  beliefs  are  consistent  with  those  of  a  bona  fide  reli-

     gion, the child will not be deemed to be physically or mentally abused. The

     county  agency  shall  closely  monitor  the  child  and  shall  seek  court-ordered

     medical intervention when the lack of medical or surgical care threatens the

     child’s  life  or  long-term  health.  In  cases  involving  religious  circumstances,

     all correspondence with a subject of the report and the records of the Depart-

     ment   and   the  county   agency   may    not  reference   ‘‘child  abuse’’  and  shall

     acknowledge the religious basis for the child’s condition, and the family shall

     be referred for general protective services, under Subchapter C of the CPSL

     (relating to general protective services), if appropriate.

     ChildLine—An organizational unit of the Department which operates a State-

  wide toll-free system for receiving reports of suspected child abuse established

  under section 6332 of the CPSL (relating to establishment of Statewide toll-free

  telephone number), refers the reports for investigation and maintains the reports

   in  the  appropriate  file.  In  addition,  it  also  receives  reports  of  student  abuse

  under  Subchapter  C.1  of  the  CPSL (relating  to  students  in  public  and  private

   schools).

     Child   protective   services—Those      services   and  activities  provided    by  the

   Department and each county agency for child abuse cases.

     County agency——

        (i)    The  county  children  and  youth  social  service  agency  established

     under section 405 of the County Institution District Law (62 P. S. §              2205),

     or its successor, and supervised by the Department under Article VII of the

     Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. §§  701—774).

        (ii)   The term also includes the Department’s Office of Children, Youth

     and  Families’  regional  offices  when  the  report  of  suspected  child  abuse  or

     student abuse involves an agent of the county agency.

     County  plan—A needs-based  plan  and  budget  estimate  which  serves  as  the

  basis  for  administration  of  the  county  children  and  youth  social  services  pro-

   gram required by Chapter 3140 (relating to planning and financial reimburse-

  ment requirements for county children and youth social service programs).

     Court  designated  advocate—A  trained  citizen  volunteer  appointed  by  the

   court to advocate on behalf of dependent children and alleged dependent chil-

   dren involved in juvenile court proceedings.

     Crimes Code—Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes .

     Department—The Department of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth.

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55 § 3490.4              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

     Director  of  a  hospital  or  other  medical  facility—The  director  or  a  person

   specifically designated in writing by the director to perform the functions under

   section 6315 of the CPSL (relating to taking child into protective custody) and

   this chapter.

     Expunge—To strike out or obliterate entirely so that the stricken information

   may  not  be  stored,  identified  or  later  recovered  by  any  means—mechanical,

   electronic or otherwise.

     Family members—Spouses, parents and children or other persons related by

   consanguinity or affinity. The term does not include foster parents, foster chil-

   dren and paramours.

     Founded report—A child abuse report made under the CPSL and this chap-

   ter  if  there  has  been  any  judicial  adjudication  based  on  a  finding  that  a  child

   who is a subject of the report has been abused, including the entry of a plea of

   guilty or nolo contenderee or a finding of guilt to a criminal charge involving

   the same factual circumstances involved in the allegation of child abuse.

     Indicated report—A child abuse report made under the CPSL and this chap-

   ter if an investigation by the county agency or the Department determines that

   substantial evidence of the alleged abuse exists based on any of the following:

        (i)     Available medical evidence.

        (ii)    The child protective service investigation.

        (iii)   An admission of the acts of abuse by the perpetrator.

     Individual residing in the same home as the child—An individual who is 14

   years of age or older and who resides in the same home as the child.

     Juvenile Act—42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 63.

     Law enforcement official—The term includes the following:

        (i)     The Attorney General.

        (ii)    A county district attorney.

        (iii)   A State Police officer.

        (iv)    A county sheriff.

        (v)     A county police officer.

        (vi)    A county detective.

        (vii)   A local or municipal police officer.

     Medical evidence—Evidence provided by a licensed health care professional,

   including    a physician,    nurse   practitioner,    registered   nurse,   psychiatrist   or

   licensed psychologist.

     Paramour—A  person  who  is  engaged  in  an  ongoing  intimate  relationship

   with a parent of the child but is not married to and does not necessarily reside

   with the child’s parent.

     Parent—A biological parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian.

     Pending  criminal  court  action—The  status  assigned  to  a  report  when  the

   county   agency    cannot    complete    the   investigation    within   30-calendar    days

   because criminal court action has been initiated.

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Ch.  3490                      PROTECTIVE SERVICES                             55 § 3490.4

     Pending  juvenile  court  action—The  status  assigned  to  a  report  when  the

   county   agency    cannot   complete    the  investigation    within  30-calendar     days

  because juvenile court action has been initiated.

     Performance audit—A review of a county agency’s practices and implemen-

  tation of the CPSL and this chapter by persons designated by the Secretary.

     Perpetrator—A person who has committed child abuse and is a parent of a

   child, a person responsible for the welfare of a child, an individual residing in

  the same home as the child or a paramour of the child’s parent.

     Person responsible for the child’s welfare——

        (i)    A person  who  provides  permanent  or  temporary  care,  supervision,

     mental health diagnosis or treatment, training or control of a child in lieu of

     parental care, supervision and control.

        (ii)   The term does not include a person who is employed by or provides

     services or programs in a public or private school, intermediate unit or area

     vocational-technical school.

     Physician—A person licensed under the statutes and regulations of the Com-

  monwealth to practice medicine.

     Protective services—Services and activities provided by the Department and

   each county agency for children who are abused or in need of general protec-

  tive services under this chapter.

     Provide—To      perform    an  activity  directly  through   county    agency   staff or

   ensure the performance of an activity through a purchase of service agreement

  with another agency or individual.

     Recent  act  or  failure  to  act—An  act  or  failure  to  act  committed  within  2

  years  of  the  date  of  the  report  of  suspected  child  abuse  to  the  Department  or

   county agency.

     Regional  staff—Department  employes  who  license  and  monitor  public  and

  private  children  and  youth  social  service  agencies  and  facilities  within  a  spe-

   cific geographical area of this Commonwealth.

     Required reporters—

        (i)    Persons who, in the course of their employment, occupation or prac-

     tice of their profession come into contact with children and have reasonable

     cause to suspect, on the basis of their medical, professional or other training

     and experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or offi-

     cial capacity is a victim of child abuse.

        (ii)   Except    with  respect   to  confidential   communications      made    to an

     ordained member of the clergy which are protected under 42 Pa.C.S. §                 5943

     (relating to confidential communications to clergymen), the privileged com-

     munication     between    any  professional    person   required   to  report   and  the

     patient  or  client  of  that  person  does  not  apply  to  situations  involving  child

     abuse and does not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by this

     subchapter.

        (iii)  Persons required to report include:

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55 § 3490.4              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

           (A)    A licensed physician, medical examiner, coroner, funeral director,

        dentist,   optometrist,    osteopath,    chiropractor,     psychologist,     podiatrist,

        intern, registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.

           (B)    Hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care or

        treatment of persons.

           (C)    A  Christian   Science    practitioner,   member     of  the  clergy,  school

        administrator,  school  teacher,  school  nurse,  social  services  worker,  day

        care  center  worker  or  another  child  care  or  foster  care  worker,  mental

        health professional, peace officer or law enforcement official.

     Secretary—The Secretary of the Department or a person specifically desig-

   nated in writing by the Secretary to perform the Secretary’s functions under the

   CPSL and this chapter.

     Serious  bodily  injury—Injury  which  creates  a  substantial  risk  of  death  or

   which causes serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment

   of the function of a body member or organ.

     Serious mental injury—A psychological condition as diagnosed by a physi-

   cian  or  licensed  psychologist,  including  the  refusal  of  appropriate  treatment,

   that does either of the following:

        (i)     Renders     the  child   chronically    and    severely   anxious,    agitated,

     depressed, socially withdrawn, psychotic or in reasonable fear that the child’s

     life or safety is threatened.

        (ii)    Seriously    interferes   with   the  child’s   ability  to  accomplish     age-

     appropriate developmental and social tasks.

     Serious physical injury—An injury that does either of the following:

        (i)     Causes the child severe pain.

        (ii)    Significantly impairs the child’s physical functioning, either tempo-

     rarily or permanently.

     Serious physical neglect—A physical condition caused by the act or failure

   to  act  of  a  perpetrator  which  endangers  the  child’s  life  or  development  or

   impairs the child’s functioning and is the result of one of the following:

        (i)     Prolonged or repeated lack of supervision.

        (ii)    Failure to provide essentials of life, including adequate medical and

     dental care.

     Sexual abuse or exploitation—

        (i)     Any of the following if committed on a child by a perpetrator:

           (A)    The employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or coer-

        cion of a child to engage in or assist another person to engage in sexually

        explicit conduct.

           (B)    A simulation of sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of pro-

        ducing a visual depiction, including photographing, videotaping, computer

        depicting or filming, of sexually explicit conduct.

           (C)    Any of the following offenses as defined by the crimes code:

     (1)    Rape as defined by section 3121 (relating to rape).

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                              55 § 3490.4

     (2)    Statutory sexual assualt as defined by section 3122.1 (relating to statu-

   tory sexual assault).

     (3)    Involuntary     deviate   sexual    intercourse    as  defined   by   section     3123

   (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse).

     (4)    Sexual assault as defined by section 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault).

     (5)    Aggravated  indecent  assault  as  defined  by  section  3125  (relating  to

   aggravated indecent assault).

     (6)    Indecent    assault   as  defined    by   section   3126    (relating   to  indecent

   assault).

     (7)    Indecent    exposure    as  defined    by  section   3127    (relating  to  indecent

   exposure).

     (8)    Incest as defined by section 4302 (relating to incest).

     (9)    Prostitution  as  defined  by  section  5902  (relating  to  prostitution  and

   related offenses).

           (D)    Exploitation which includes any of the following:

     (1)    Looking at the sexual or other intimate parts of a child for the purpose

   of arousing or gratifying sexual desire in either person.

     (2)    Engaging or encouraging a child to look at the sexual or other intimate

   parts of another person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire

   in any person involved.

     (3)    Engaging or encouraging a child to participate in sexually explicit con-

   versation either in person, by telephone, by computer or by a computer aided

   device.

     Statewide  Central  Register—A  register  of  child  abuse  and  student  abuse,

   established in the Department, which consists of founded and indicated reports

   of child abuse and student abuse.

     Status determination—The decision made by the county agency that a child

   abuse or student abuse report is founded, indicated, unfounded, pending juve-

   nile court action or pending criminal court action.

     Subjects of the report—A child, parent, guardian or other person responsible

   for the welfare of a child or any alleged or actual perpetrator or school employe

   named  in  a  report  made  to  the  Department  or  county  agency  under  this  sub-

   chapter.

     Substantial evidence—Evidence which outweighs inconsistent evidence and

   which a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.

      Unfounded  report—A report  made  under  the  CPSL and  this  chapter  unless

   the report is a founded report or an indicated report.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.4 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988,

20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding

text appears at serial pages (211715) to (211718), and (236831) to (236832).

                                            3490-11

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55 § 3490.4                   CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                                  Pt.  V

                                               Notes of Decisions

Child Abuse

   Failure to raise the issue of whether the actions of the abuser fell within the statutory definition of

child abuse constituted a waiver of that issue. B. E. v. Department of Public Welfare, 654 A.2d 290

(Pa. Cmwlth. 1995).

   The  natural  mother’s  boyfriend  lacked  standing  to  appeal  an  order  adjudicating  the  child  to  be

dependent  and  awarding  custody  to  the  natural  father,  even  though  a  report  filed  by  Children  and

Youth Services implicating the boyfriend had been given ‘‘indicated’’ status. In re Interest of Garth-

waite, 619 A.2d 356 (Pa. Super. 1993).

   A finding that a child suffered severe pain may be supported by circumstantial evidence and need

not  be  supported  by  either  testimony  from  the  victim,  or  by  unequivocal  medical  testimony  to  that

effect. D. N. v. Department of Public Welfare, 562 A.2d 433 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1989).

   The court will not overturn factual findings and a conclusion of law by the Office of Hearings and

Appeals  regarding  whether  particular  conduct  constituted  sexual  assault  where  the  issue  raised  by

petitioner involved OHA’s specific findings as to the nature and extent of bodily contact considering

height differences of the child and her father. J. S. v. Department of Public Welfare , 565 A.2d 862 (Pa.

Cmwlth. 1989).

   Record failed to reveal substantial evidence of child abuse, where only evidence of severe pain was

hearsay testimony of social worker and there was not evidence of impairment. N. B. v. Department of

Public Welfare, 527 A.2d 623 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987).

   Father is not entitled to expungement of indicated report of child abuse when substantial evidence

indicates  that  he  touched  his  daughter’s  bare  buttocks  and  insisted  on  bathing  her  and  rubbing  her

‘‘bottom real hard.’’ G. S. v. Department of Public Welfare, 521 A.2d 87 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987).

   If a child’s injury is nonaccidental, then it is considered child abuse. To determine if an injury is

nonaccidental, the Supreme Court has directed that a criminal negligence standard be applied. P. R. v.

Department of Public Welfare, 801 A.2d 478 (Pa. 2002).

Child Abuse-Pain

   Day care operator’s argument that because neither the child’s mother nor the child’s doctor testified

regarding any pain, the Department of Public Welfare failed to sustain its burden of proof under this

regulation was rejected. The evidence demonstrated that the child winced when the bruised area was

touched and that the child screamed when the mother attempted to apply a cold compress or ice to

the  bruised  area;  thus,  demonstrating  an  injury  that  resulted  in  severe  pain.  S. T.  v.  Department  of

Public Welfare, 681 A.2d 853 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996); appeal denied 690 A.2d 1165 (Pa. 1997).

Serious Physical Injury

   Wincing  when  a  bruised  area  is  touched  and  screaming  when  an  attempt  is  made  to  apply  cold

compresses or ice to a bruised area are sufficient to establish an injury resulting in severe pain. S. T.

v. Department of Public Welfare, Lackawanna County Office, Children Youth & Family Services, 681

A.2d 853 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996), appeal denied, 690 A.2d 1165 (Pa. 1997).

Serious Physical Neglect

   Mother’s conduct on one occasion where she left a 10 1/2 month old child alone on an upper bunk

bed  for  15  minutes,  during  which  time  the  child  died  from  asphyxiation,  determined  by  medical

examiner  as  an  accident,  does  not  constitute  ‘‘serious  physical  neglect’’  as  defined  in  §       3490.4.

                                                    3490-12

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----------------------- Page 13-----------------------

Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                 55 § 3490.5

Therefore,  it  was  error  not  to  expunge  petitioner’s  record  of  indicated  child  abuse.  C. F.  v.  Depart-

ment of Public Welfare, 804 A.2d 755 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §§  611.5 (relating to definitions); 28 Pa. Code § 611.53 (relating

to child  abuse  clearance);  55  Pa. Code  §  3490.143   (relating to  definitions); and  55  Pa. Code

§  3490.223 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.5.  Waivers.

   (a)    A waiver of a requirement of this chapter may be requested as specified

in procedures published by the Department.

                                             3490-12.1

(346683)  No. 423      Feb.  10

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                                                 3490-12.2

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                             55 § 3490.11

   (b)   A waiver may be granted by the Department if the waiver:

     (1)    Does not alter the applicability, scope or purpose of this chapter.

     (2)    Is  based  on  evidence,  supplied  by  the  requesting  county  agency,  that

   the objective of the requirement will be achieved in another way.

     (3)    Is based on evidence, supplied by the requesting county agency, that a

   waiver will have no adverse effect on the health, safety and rights of children.

     (4)    Does  not  violate  or  condone  noncompliance  with  Federal  statutes  or

   regulation or State statutes.

     (5)    Does not jeopardize receipt of Federal moneys.

   (c)   Except as provided in section 6361 of the CPSL (relating to organization

for child protective services), the Department may not waive the requirement that

the county agency is the sole civil agency responsible to receive and investigate

reports   of  suspected   child   abuse   and   receive   and  assess   reports   of suspected

neglect.

   (d)   A county  agency  requesting  a  waiver  shall  continue  to  comply  with  the

requirements of this chapter until a waiver is granted.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.5 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                        REPORTERS

§  3490.11.  Reporting suspected child abuse.

   (a)   A person may make a report of suspected child abuse to ChildLine or a

county agency if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been

abused. Reports shall be accepted by ChildLine or the county agency regardless

of whether the person identifies himself.

   (b)   A person other than a school employe having reasonable cause to suspect

that  a  school  employe  has  committed  student  abuse  may  report  the  suspected

abuse to the school administrator as required by §§  3490.151(c) and 3490.152(a)

and (c) (relating to required reporting; and responsibilities of administrators and

school employes).

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.11 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (236832).

§  3490.12.  Required reporters.

   In addition to other reports they make, required reporters shall report suspected

child abuse to ChildLine.

                                           3490-13

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55 § 3490.13              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                          Pt.  V

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.12 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (236833).

§  3490.13.  Reports by employes who are required reporters.

   (a)    Required reporters who work in an institution, school, facility or agency

shall immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, school, facility or

agency  or  the  person  in  charge’s  designee  of  suspected  abuse.  The  person  in

charge,  or  the  designee,  shall  be  responsible  and  have  the  obligation  to  make  a

report  of  the  suspected  child  abuse  to  ChildLine  immediately.  Nothing  in  this

chapter  requires  more  than  one  report  from  any  institution,  school,  facility  or

agency.

   (b)    The person in charge or the designee may not make an independent deter-

mination of whether to report. The person in charge or the designee shall notify

the employe when the report was made to ChildLine.

   (c)    Notwithstanding        subsection     (a),  nothing    in   this  chapter    prohibits    an

employe who is a required reporter from making a report directly to ChildLine.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.13 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (236833) and (211721).

§  3490.14.  Privileged communication.

   Except with respect to confidential communications made to an ordained mem-

ber of the clergy which are protected under 42 Pa.C.S. §                   5943 (relating to con-

fidential  communications  to  clergymen),  privileged  communication  between  a

required  reporter  and  the  person’s  patient  or  client  does  not  apply  to  situations

involving  child  abuse  and  may  not  constitute  grounds  for  failure  to  report  as

required by this chapter.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.14 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding text apep-

ars at serial page (211721).

§  3490.15.  Taking a child into protective custody.

   (a)    The following persons may take a child into protective custody:

      (1)    Persons  authorized  to  do  so  under  section  6324  of  the  Juvenile  Act

   (relating to taking into custody).

      (2)    The director or a person specifically designated in writing by the direc-

   tor of a hospital or other medical facility or a physician examining or treating

                                              3490-14

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Ch.  3490                         PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.16

   a child under section 6315 of the CPSL (relating to taking child into protective

   custody) and subsection (b).

   (b)    The director or a person specifically designated in writing by the director

or physician may take a child into protective custody if it is immediately neces-

sary  to  protect  the  child  from  further  serious  physical  injury,  sexual  abuse,  or

serious physical neglect—as indicated by the following examples:

      (1)    Medical  indications  of  repeated  abuse,  the  existence  of  previous  indi-

   cated  or  founded  reports  of  child  abuse,  the  seriousness  of  the  child’s  condi-

   tion, evidence of recent acts of abuse as opposed to old injuries, or statements

   of the child, or statements or actions by the parents indicating they are likely

   to be abusive toward the child.

      (2)    There  is  medical  evidence  that  the  child  is  a  victim  of  alleged  child

   abuse and that the child’s physical condition constitutes a medical emergency

   which  requires  immediate  hospitalization  to  prevent  death  or  serious  physical

   impairment.

      (3)    The parents, guardians or other custodians, after being advised that the

   child’s physical condition constitutes a medical emergency will make no imme-

   diate arrangements for medically adequate alternative treatment.

   (c)    A child  may  not  be  held  in  protective  custody  for  more  than  24  hours

unless  the  appropriate  county  agency  is  immediately  notified  that  the  child  has

been  taken  into  protective  custody  and  the  county  agency  obtains  a  court  order

permitting the child to be held in protective custody for a longer period of time.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.15 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211721) to (211722).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.233 (relating to protective custody).

§  3490.16.  Notifying the county agency.

   If a person takes a child suspected of being abused into protective custody, the

person shall immediately notify the county agency in the county where the child

is being held that the child is in protective custody.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.16 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211722).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.233 (relating to protective custody).

                                              3490-15

(257455)  No. 298     Sep.  99

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55 § 3490.17             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                        Pt.  V

§  3490.17.  Notifying the child’s parents, guardians or other custodians.

   If a person takes a child into protective custody, the person shall verbally notify

the  child’s  parents,  guardians  or  other  custodians  immediately  and  in  writing

within 24 hours, of the following:

      (1)    The child’s whereabouts unless prohibited by a court order.

      (2)    The reason for taking the child into protective custody.

      (3)    The telephone number of the local county agency.

                                               Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.17 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211722).

                                         Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.57  (relating  to  protective  custody);  and  55  Pa. Code

§  3490.233 (relating to protective custody).

§  3490.18.  Filing of a written report by a required reporter.

   Within  48  hours  of  reporting  to  ChildLine,  a  required  reporter  shall  make  a

written report on forms provided by the Department to the county agency in the

county where the suspected child abuse occurred. The written report shall include

the following information, if available:

      (1)    The names and addresses of the child and the parents or other persons

   responsible for the care of the child.

      (2)    The county in which the suspected abuse occurred.

      (3)    The age and sex of the subjects of the report.

      (4)    The nature and extent of the suspected child abuse, including evidence

   of prior abuse to the child or a sibling.

      (5)    The reasons for suspecting child abuse.

      (6)    The  name  of  the  alleged  perpetrators  of  the  suspected  abuse  and  evi-

   dence of prior abuse by those persons.

      (7)    The relationship of the alleged perpetrator to the child.

      (8)    The family household composition.

      (9)    The source of the report.

      (10)   The person making the report and where the person can be reached.

      (11)   A statement of the child’s parents regarding the suspected abuse and a

   statement or admission of abuse by the alleged perpetrator.

      (12)   The actions taken by the reporting source, including:

        (i)     The taking of photographs and X-rays.

        (ii)    The taking of protective custody.

        (iii)   Notification to the coroner.

        (iv)    The hospitalization of the child.

                                             3490-16

(257456)  No. 298     Sep.  99                                Copyright  1999 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

----------------------- Page 19-----------------------

Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                55 § 3490.19

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.18 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211722) to (211723).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 49 Pa. Code §   47.52 (relating to suspected child abuse—mandated reporting

requirement); 49 Pa. Code §    48.52 (relating to suspected child abuse—mandated reporting); and 49

Pa. Code §  49.52 (relating to suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements).

§  3490.19.  Reporting to the coroner.

   A required  reporter  who  suspects  that  a  child  died  as  a  result  of  child  abuse

shall  send  a  duplicate  of  the  report  sent  to  the  county  agency  to  the  coroner  of

the county in which the death occurred.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.19 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211723).

§  3490.20.  Other medical information.

   A required reporter may photograph a child who is the subject of a report and,

if  clinically  indicated,  ensure  that  a  radiological  examination  and  other  medical

tests of the child are performed. A medical summary or report of photographs or

X-rays taken shall be sent to the county agency at the time the written report is

sent,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible.  The  county  agency  shall  be  provided

access to the actual photographs and X-rays and may obtain them or duplicates

upon request.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.20 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211723).

§  3490.21.  Release of information on prior abuse reports.

   (a)    A physician or director or a person specifically designated in writing by

the director of a hospital or other medical facility may request information from

the county agency on prior abuse involving the child being examined or treated

by the physician or director or a person specifically designated in writing by the

director of the hospital or other medical facility.

   (b)    The county agency shall provide the physician or director or the designee

of the director treating or examining the child with the requested information on

prior child abuse involving the child.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.21 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211724).

                                               3490-17

(323209)  No. 386      Jan.  07

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55 § 3490.31             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

                       DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

§  3490.31.  Receipt of reports.

   The   Department      established    a  single   Statewide    toll-free  telephone     number

(800)   932-0313—referred         to  as  ChildLine—available         at  all times   to  receive

reports of suspected child abuse.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.31 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211724).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.32.  ChildLine reporting to the county agency.

   (a)   ChildLine  shall  immediately  transmit  reports  of  suspected  child  abuse

verbally to the county agency of the county where the suspected abuse occurred.

If the child resides in a different county, ChildLine will notify that county also.

   (b)   If the child was allegedly abused in more than one county or on an ongo-

ing  basis,  ChildLine  will  assign  the  report  to  the  county  where  the  most  recent

alleged abuse occurred.

   (c)   The  county  agency  which  receives  the  report  initially  is  responsible  to

contact the other counties in subsections (a) and (b) in conducting the investiga-

tion. If it appears that a county other than the one to which the report was referred

should conduct the investigation, the agencies should decide between themselves

which one is responsible for the report. The county which received the report ini-

tially shall notify ChildLine of any change so that ChildLine’s records are accu-

rate and up-to-date.

   (d)   If the counties are unable to agree about which one is responsible to con-

duct the investigation and make the status determination, the county to which the

report was assigned shall contact ChildLine and Childline will assign the inves-

tigation to a county agency to make a status determination.

   (e)   The  report  of  the  investigation  shall  be  submitted  to  ChildLine  within

30-calendar days of when the report was received at ChildLine.

   (f)   The ChildLine report to the county agency shall contain the information

on the current report of suspected abuse and the information on file at ChildLine

on previous reports except for information obtained by the Department as a result

of a request to expunge an indicated or founded report of child abuse or an indi-

cated report of student abuse.

   (g)   If the complaint received does not suggest suspected child abuse but does

suggest  a  need  for  social  services  or  other  services  or  investigation,  ChildLine

shall  transmit  the  information  to  the  appropriate  county  agency  or  other  public

agency.

                                            3490-18

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----------------------- Page 21-----------------------

Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.33

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.32 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211724).

                                           Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.36  (relating  to  providing  information  to  the  county

agency).

§  3490.33.  Files.

   ChildLine  will  establish  and  maintain  the  following  files  for  reports  of  child

abuse:

      (1)    A pending complaint file which contains reports of child abuse that are

   one of the following:

         (i)     Under investigation.

         (ii)    Pending juvenile or criminal court action.

      (2)    A Statewide Central Register which contains the following:

         (i)     Copies of founded and indicated reports of child abuse.

         (ii)    A  subfile  of  the  names  of  perpetrators  of  indicated  and  founded

      reports of child abuse if the individual’s Social Security Number or date of

      birth is known to the Department. The subfile shall be retained indefinitely.

      (3)    A  statistical  file  which  contains  copies  of  reports  of  suspected,  indi-

   cated and founded reports of child abuse after information which could directly

   or indirectly identify a subject of a report has been expunged.

      (4)    A file of unfounded reports awaiting expunction.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.33 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211725).

                                           Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.39  (relating  to  expunction  from  the  Statewide  Central

Register).

§  3490.34.  Pending complaint file.

   (a)    Upon receipt of a report of suspected child abuse ChildLine will enter the

information  specified  in  section  6336  of  the  CPSL  (relating  to  information  in

Statewide Central Register) into the pending complaint file.

   (b)    Notwithstanding        subsection    (c),  reports    which    are  determined      pending

juvenile or criminal court action shall be maintained in the pending complaint file

until the county agency notifies ChildLine of the final status.

   (c)    If within 60-calendar days from the date of the initial report of suspected

child abuse a status determination has not been received at ChildLine, the report

                                              3490-19

(257459)  No. 298      Sep.  99

----------------------- Page 22-----------------------

55 § 3490.35             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                        Pt.  V

shall  be  considered  unfounded.  Prior  to  expunging  the  report,  ChildLine  shall

verify   with    the  county     agency    that   the  report    was   not   completed      within

60-calendar days.

   (d)   Unfounded  reports  shall  be  expunged  at  ChildLine  within  120-calendar

days after the date of the initial report to ChildLine.

   (e)   Reports  which  are  unfounded  awaiting  expunction  may  not  be  released

from  the  pending  complaint  file  except  to  a  subject  of  a  report  upon  written

request, employes of the Department under this subchapter and employes of the

Office of Attorney General under section 6345 of the CPSL (relating to audits by

Attorney General).

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.34 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211725).

§  3490.35.  Statewide Central Register.

   When  a  report  of  suspected  child  abuse  is  determined  founded  or  indicated,

ChildLine shall enter the report in the Statewide Central Register and expunge the

report from the pending complaint file. If there is incomplete information in the

report, ChildLine will contact the county agency and request additional clarifying

information so that the information in the Statewide Central Register is complete.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.35 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211725) to (211726).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.36.  Providing information to the county agency.

   (a)   ChildLine     shall   release  information     to  a  county    agency    verbally    only

when both of the following exist:

      (1)    The county agency is making a report of suspected child abuse.

      (2)    ChildLine     has  identified    that  the  person    is a  representative     of  the

   county agency.

   (b)   When ChildLine receives a verbal request from a county agency, only the

information     specified   in  §  3490.32(f)     (relating   to  ChildLine     reporting   to  the

county agency) may be released from the pending complaint file and Statewide

Central Register.

   (c)   Upon receipt of a written request from the county agency for information

regarding  a  subject  of  a  report,  ChildLine  will  forward  copies  of  all  reports  on

file which are under investigation, founded or indicated involving that subject to

                                             3490-20

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Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.37

the county agency, except information obtained by the Department in response to

a request to amend or expunge an indicated or founded report of child abuse.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.36 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211726).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.37.  Release          of   information:      Statewide      Central     Register,    pending

                   complaint file and file of unfounded reports.

   (a)    A request  for  information  from  the  Statewide  Central  Register,  pending

complaint  file  or  file  of  unfounded  reports  by  persons  permitted  access  to  this

information, other than the county agency, shall be in writing and signed by the

person requesting the information.

   (b)    The  name  of  the  person  who  made  the  report  or  who  cooperated  in  the

investigation may be released only by the Secretary.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.37 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211726).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.38.  Authorized studies of child abuse data.

   The Department may conduct or authorize studies of the data contained in the

pending complaint file, the Statewide Central Register, the statistical file, and the

county agency files and distribute the results of the studies if no study contains

the name of a subject or other information by which a subject of a report can be

directly or indirectly identified. Requests to conduct studies shall be made to the

Deputy Secretary, Office of Children, Youth and Families of the Department. The

researcher shall secure the concurrence of the appropriate county agency admin-

istrator to use the county agency files.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.38 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211726) to (211727).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

                                              3490-21

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55 § 3490.39             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

§  3490.39.  Expunction from the Statewide Central Register.

   (a)   Except  as  provided  in  subsection  (b),  ChildLine  shall  expunge  founded

and indicated reports when a subject child is 23 years of age or older.

   (b)   If the Social Security Number or date of birth of the perpetrator is known

in founded or indicated reports of child abuse, the following information shall be

maintained:

      (1)   The name, Social Security Number, date of birth and sex of the perpe-

   trator.

      (2)   The date of birth and sex of the child.

      (3)   The dates and the nature and extent of the child abuse.

      (4)   The county in which the child abuse occurred.

      (5)   The relationship of the perpetrator to the child.

      (6)   Whether the report was a founded or indicated report.

      (7)   The results of any criminal prosecution.

   (c)   The  information  referred  to  in  subsection  (b)  shall  remain  in  the  subfile

under §  3490.33 (relating to files).

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.39 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211727).

§  3490.40.  Notifications regarding indicated reports.

   (a)   When indicated reports of child abuse are entered into the Statewide Cen-

tral Register, ChildLine will notify all subjects by first class mail, other than the

subject child, of:

      (1)   The status of the report.

      (2)   The  perpetrator’s  right  to  request  the  Secretary  to  amend  or  expunge

   the report.

      (3)   The circumstances under which the report will be expunged.

      (4)   Their right to services from the county agency.

      (5)   The  effect  of  the  report  upon  future  employment  opportunities  in  a

   child care service.

      (6)   The fact that the name of the perpetrator and nature of the abuse will

   be kept on file indefinitely if the Social Security Number or date of birth of the

   perpetrator is known.

   (b)   ChildLine     will   notify   the  county    agency    and   the  perpetrator    of   any

expunction of a report of child abuse, except when the expunction is the result of

the Secretary’s decision, in which case the county agency and all subjects shall

be notified.

   (c)   ChildLine will notify the county agency and all subjects of the Secretary’s

decision to amend a report of child abuse.

                                            3490-22

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Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                              55 § 3490.40a

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.40 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211727).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.40a.  Notifications regarding founded reports.

   When  founded  reports  of  child  abuse  are  entered  into  the  Statewide  Central

Register, ChildLine will notify all subjects by first class mail, other than the sub-

ject child, of:

      (1)    The status of the report.

      (2)    The  effect  of  the  report  upon  future  employment  opportunities  in  a

   child care service and a school.

      (3)    The fact that the name of the perpetrator or school employe and nature

   of the abuse will be kept on file indefinitely if the Social Security Number or

   date of birth of the perpetrator or school employe is known.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.40a adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.41.  Determination of time.

   ChildLine      will  use   the   United    States   Postal   Service     postmark     or  the   date

received  by  the  Department  when  transmitted  electronically  to  determine  when

the Department is informed by the county agency of the status determination of

a report.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.41 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211727) to (211728).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.42.  Performance audit and reviews.

   (a)    The  Secretary  may  direct  that  a  performance  audit  be  conducted  of  any

activity related to the implementation of the CPSL and this chapter.

                                              3490-23

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55 § 3490.43              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                           Pt.  V

   (b)    The Department will determine in its annual licensing and inspection pro-

cess   whether     the  county    agency     has   sufficiently   documented       reasons    why,    if

applicable,  all  child  abuse  investigations  have  not  been  completed  within  the

30-calendar day period.

   (c)    The    Department      will   provide     the  results    of  performance       audits   and

reviews to the affected agencies consistent with the confidentiality provisions of

this chapter. Information provided shall include an assessment of compliance with

the provisions of this chapter and recommendations relating to practice issues, if

appropriate.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.42 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211728).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §   3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.43.  [Reserved].

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.43 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211728).

                              COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES

§  3490.51.  [Reserved].

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.51 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211728).

§  3490.52.  Receipt of reports.

   The  county  agency  shall  provide  24-hours-per-day/7-days-per-week  telephone

access for persons to report suspected child abuse.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.52 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211728).

§  3490.53.  Functions of the county agency for child protective services.

   (a)    The county agency is the sole civil agency responsible for receiving and

investigating reports of child abuse except reports of abuse allegedly perpetrated

                                              3490-24

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Ch.  3490                         PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.54

by an agent. The county agency shall investigate allegations of abuse of children

residing in facilities operated directly by the Department.

   (b)    The county agency shall protect the safety of the subject child and other

children in the home or facility and shall provide or arrange appropriate services

when necessary during the investigation period.

   (c)    The county agency shall determine the status of reports of suspected child

abuse.

   (d)    If the county agency concludes that the child is in danger of further child

abuse, the county agency shall do the following:

      (1)    Accept the case for service.

      (2)    Provide direct case management.

      (3)    Monitor  the  provision  of  services,  whether  provided  directly  by  the

   county agency or through purchase or agreement.

   (e)    The county agency shall provide direct case management of services pro-

vided to abused children and their families until the county agency is reasonably

assured that the child is no longer in danger of child abuse. The reasons for ter-

mination of the county agency involvement shall be recorded in the case record.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.53 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211728) to (211729).

                                          Notes of Decisions

Expunction Proceedings

   Expunction proceedings before the Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Hearings and Appeals

are  civil  proceedings  as  opposed  to  criminal  proceedings;  therefore,  the  Sixth Amendment  right  for

the accused to confront the witnesses against him does not apply. Dauphin County Social Services for

Children and Youth v. Department of Public Welfare, 855 A.2d 159, 163 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004)

§  3490.54.  Independent investigation of reports.

   Except  for  reports  investigated  by  the  Department,  the  county  agency  shall

investigate  and  make  independent  determinations  on  reports  of  suspected  child

abuse, regardless of another investigation conducted by another agency, the court

or the police and regardless of whether or not the person making the report iden-

tified himself. A county agency may rely on an investigation of substantially the

same  allegations  by  a  law  enforcement  agency  to  support  the  county  agency’s

finding  regarding  a  child  abuse  report.  This  reliance  does  not  limit  the  duties

required of the county agency by section 6368 of the CPSL (relating to investi-

gation of reports).

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.54 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211729).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

                                              3490-25

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55 § 3490.55             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                      Pt.  V

§  3490.55.  Investigation of reports of suspected child abuse.

   (a)   Except  as  provided  in  subsection  (b),  the  county  agency  shall  begin  its

investigation within 24 hours of receiving a report of suspected child abuse. Upon

beginning its investigation, the county agency shall see the child within 24 hours

of receipt of the report.

   (b)   The county agency shall begin the investigation immediately upon receipt

of a report of suspected child abuse and see the child immediately if one of the

following applies:

     (1)    Emergency protective custody has been taken or is needed.

     (2)    It cannot be determined from the report whether or not emergency pro-

   tective custody is needed.

   (c)   After ensuring the immediate safety of the child and other children in the

home,  the  county  agency  shall  verbally  notify  ChildLine  of  the  receipt  of  the

report, if it was not received initially from ChildLine.

   (d)   When  conducting  its  investigation,  the  county  agency  shall,  if  possible,

conduct an interview with those persons who are known to have or may reason-

ably be expected to have, information relating to the incident of suspected child

abuse including, but not limited to, all of the following:

     (1)    The child, if appropriate.

     (2)    The child’s parents or other person responsible for the child’s welfare.

     (3)    The alleged perpetrator of the suspected child abuse.

     (4)    The reporter of the suspected child abuse, if known.

     (5)    Eyewitnesses to the suspected child abuse.

     (6)    Neighbors and relatives who may have knowledge of the abuse.

     (7)    Day care provider or school personnel, or both, if appropriate.

   (e)   The county agency shall record in writing the facts obtained as a result of

the  interviews  conducted  under  subsection  (d)  and  any  other  interviews  it  con-

ducts.

     (1)    When conducting its investigation, the county agency shall maintain a

   written record of the facts obtained from each interview it conducts.

     (2)    At  the  conclusion  of  its  investigation,  when  the  report  is  determined

   indicated,  founded  or  unfounded  and  accepted  for  services,  under  §             3490.59

   (relating  to  action  by  the  county  agency  after  determining  the  status  of  the

   report), the county agency shall enter a written summary of the facts obtained

   from each interview in the case record.

   (f)   When investigating a report of suspected child abuse in which a child has

sustained visible injury, the county agency shall, whenever possible and appropri-

ate, take, cause to be taken or obtain color photographs of the injury.

     (1)    Photographs  shall  include  one  snapshot  in  which  the  child  is  clearly

   identifiable with the injured part of the body visible to establish the identity of

                                            3490-26

(309100)  No. 364    Mar.  05                                Copyright  2005 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

----------------------- Page 29-----------------------

Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                             55 § 3490.55

   the child and the actual location and extent of the injury. More than one pho-

   tograph of the injury shall be taken if it is necessary to obtain a clear close-up

   of the injury.

     (2)    The  county  agency  shall  maintain  photographs  it  secures  in  the  case

   record. Photographs shall be identified by all of the following:

        (i)     The name of the child.

        (ii)    The age of the child.

        (iii)   The date and time of day the photograph was taken.

        (iv)    The location at which the photograph was taken.

        (v)     The names of witnesses present.

        (vi)    The name of the photographer.

   (g)   When  investigating  a  report  of  suspected  serious  mental  injury,  sexual

abuse or exploitation or serious physical neglect, the county agency shall, when-

ever  appropriate,  obtain  medical  evidence  or  expert  consultation,  or  both.  The

county agency shall maintain a record of medical evidence or expert consultation,

or both, obtained during its investigation, including one of the following:

     (1)    The reasons why medical examination or expert consultation, or both,

   was secured and the results of the examination/consultation.

     (2)    The reasons why medical examination or expert consultation, or both,

   was determined not to be necessary.

   (h)   If the investigation indicates serious physical injury, a medical examina-

tion shall be performed on the subject child by a certified medical practitioner. If

there  is  reasonable  cause  to  suspect  there  is  a  history  of  prior  or  current  abuse,

the medical practitioner has the authority to arrange for further medical tests or

the county agency has the authority to request further medical tests.

   (i)   When     conducting     its  investigation,    the  county    agency    shall  visit  the

child’s home, at least once during the investigation period. The home visits shall

occur as often as necessary to complete the investigation and to assure the safety

of the child.

   (j)   When investigating cases of suspected child abuse and a subject is located

in a county other than where the abuse occurred, the county agency shall either

make  contact  in  the  county  where  the  subject  is  located  or  request  the  county

where the subject is located to conduct the interview. The county agency where

the subject is located shall assist in the investigation as required by this section.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.55 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547; amended December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 4629; amended July 2, 1999,

effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (211729) to

(211731).

                                            3490-27

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55 § 3490.56              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                          Pt.  V

                                          Notes of Decisions

Miranda Warnings

   Statements  made  by  defendant  to  a  Children  and Youth  Services  caseworker,  as  part  of  an  inter-

view  under  this  section,  while  Defendant  was  in  custody,  could  be  suppressed  in  the  absence  of

Miranda  warnings, since caseworker was required to forward the report to police.  Commonwealth v.

Ramos, 532 A.2d 465 (Pa. Super. 1987).

§  3490.56.  County  agency  investigation  of  suspected  child  abuse  perpe-

                   trated  by  persons  employed  or  supervised  by  child  care  ser-

                  vices and residential facilities.

   (a)    In addition to complying with other applicable sections of the CPSL and

this chapter, when investigating a report of suspected child abuse perpetrated by

a person who operates, is employed by or acting as a volunteer for a child care

service, including a child day care center, a group or family day care home or a

residential  facility,  the  county  agency,  shall,  within  24  hours  of  receipt  of  the

report, verbally notify the following of the content of the report:

      (1)    The  person  in  charge  of  the  facility  or  child  care  service  where  the

   alleged child abuse occurred.

      (2)    The person in charge of the agency which placed the child.

      (3)    The person in charge of the county agency with custody or supervision

   of the child.

      (4)    The  regional  office  of  the  Department  that  is  responsible  to  license,

   register or approve the child care service or facility.

   (b)    The person in charge of the child care service or facility shall implement

a plan of supervision or alternative arrangements to ensure the safety of the child

and other children who are in the care of the child care service or facility during

the investigation. The plan of supervision or alternative arrangements shall be in

writing,  approved  by  the  county  agency  and  kept  on  file  by  the  county  agency

until  the  investigation  is  completed.  When  the  plan  is  approved  by  the  county

agency, the county agency shall immediately send a copy of the approved plan to

the appropriate regional licensing director or designee.

   (c)    The  county  agency  shall  inform  the  persons  listed  in  subsection  (a)  in

writing of the results of the investigation.

   (d)    The  county  agency  shall  develop  or  revise  the  family  service  plan  as

required by Chapter 3130 (relating to administration of county children and youth

social service programs) for the child and perpetrator if the report is founded or

indicated and the case has been accepted for service.

   (e)    If  the  report  is  founded  or  indicated,  the  county  agency  shall  request  a

written statement from the person in charge of the child care service or facility

regarding  the  steps  planned  and  taken  to  ensure  the  future  safety  of  the  subject

child  and  other  children  in  the  care  of  the  child  care  service  or  facility.  The

request  shall  be  made  within  5-calendar  days  of  when  the  status  determination

was made. The person in charge of the child care service or facility shall submit

                                              3490-28

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----------------------- Page 31-----------------------

Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                              55 § 3490.57

a written response to the county agency within 10-calendar days of the mailing

date   of  the  county    agency’s    letter. If  the  plan   is unacceptable      to the   county

agency, the county agency shall take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the

children in the child care service or facility.

   (f)   If  the  facility  or  child  care  service  is  operated,  registered,  licensed  or

approved  by  the  Department,  the  county  agency  shall  send  a  copy  of  the  com-

pleted  form  required  by  §  3490.67  (relating  to  written  reports  to  ChildLine)—

filed with ChildLine—and a copy of the written statement required by subsection

(e)  to  the  regional  director  or  the  director’s  designee  in  the  region  where  the

founded or indicated child abuse occurred.

                                               Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.56 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211731).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3800.15 (relating to child abuse).

§  3490.57.  Protective custody.

   (a)   The county agency shall comply with the Juvenile Act, the CPSL and this

chapter  when  taking  a  child  into  custody.  Protective  custody  under  this  chapter

may not be maintained longer than 72 hours without an informal hearing under

section 6332 of the Juvenile Act (relating to informal hearing). If, at the informal

hearing, it is determined that protective custody shall be continued and the child

is alleged to be a dependent child under section 6302 of the Juvenile Act (relat-

ing to definitions), the county agency shall within 48 hours of the determination

file  a  petition  with  the  court  under  the  Juvenile Act  alleging  that  the  child  is  a

dependent child.

   (b)   The county agency shall request protective custody only if the immediate

safety and well-being of the child requires removal from the setting in which the

alleged child abuse occurred.

   (c)   A county  agency  worker  may  take  a  child  into  protective  custody  only

under a specific court order naming the individual child. The county agency staff

may not be deputized or use blanket court orders to take children into protective

custody.

   (d)   A child taken into protective custody may be placed only in the following

locations:

      (1)    A hospital,  if  hospitalization  is  medically  necessary  in  the  opinion  of

   the attending physician.

      (2)    A home of a relative of the child or other individual who has a signifi-

   cant   relationship    with   the  child   or  the  child’s   family.   The   home     shall  be

   approved by the county agency for this purpose.

      (3)    A foster family home approved by a licensed foster family care agency.

                                             3490-29

(257469)  No. 298     Sep.  99

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55 § 3490.58             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                        Pt.  V

      (4)    A licensed residential child care facility.

   (e)   If the county agency initiates emergency protective custody, it shall notify

the  child’s  parents  as  required  by  §      3490.17  (relating  to  notifying  the  child’s

parents, guardians or other custodians).

   (f)   Within  48  hours  of  taking  a  child  into  protective  custody,  the  county

agency shall do the following:

      (1)    Meet with the child’s parents to assess their ability to assure the child’s

   safety if the child is to be returned home.

      (2)    Meet with other individuals who may have information relating to the

   safety of the child in the home if the child is to be returned home.

      (3)    Determine  if  services  could  be  provided  to  the  family  which  would

   alleviate the conditions necessitating protective custody.

      (4)    Provide or arrange for necessary services.

      (5)    Meet with the parents to advise them of the decision to do one of the

   following:

        (i)     Return the child to the child’s home.

        (ii)    Explain to the parents the reasons why the child will continue to be

     held in protective custody and the nature of future legal proceedings includ-

      ing  the  rights  provided  under  sections  6337  and  6338  of  the  Juvenile Act

      (relating to right to counsel; and other basic rights) which are:

           (A)    The right to counsel.

           (B)    The right to introduce evidence and cross examine witnesses at the

        Juvenile Court hearing.

                                               Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.57 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211732).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.233 (relating to protective custody).

§  3490.58.  Notifications.

   (a)   Except  for  the  subject  child,  the  county  agency  shall  notify  the  subject

who is about to be interviewed of:

      (1)    The existence of the report and the type of suspected abuse.

      (2)    The subject’s rights under sections 6337 and 6338 of the Juvenile Act

   (relating to right to counsel; and other basic rights) when a case goes to Juve-

   nile Court. Those rights are:

        (i)     The right to counsel.

        (ii)    The right to introduce evidence and cross examine witnesses.

      (3)    The perpetrator’s rights regarding amendment and expunction.

   (b)   Within    72   hours   of  interviewing     the  subject,   the  county    agency    shall

notify the subject in writing of:

                                             3490-30

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                             55 § 3490.58

      (1)   The existence of the report and type of alleged abuse.

      (2)   The rights under sections 6337 and 6338 of the Juvenile Act, when a

   case goes to juvenile court. Those rights are:

        (i)     The right to counsel.

        (ii)    The right to introduce evidence and cross examine witnesses.

      (3)   The perpetrator’s rights regarding amendment and expunction.

      (4)   The  right  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  report  from  the  Statewide  Central

   Register or the county agency.

      (5)   The  fact  that  the  report,  if  determined  unfounded,  will  be  expunged

   from  the  pending  complaint  file  within  120-calendar  days  from  the  date  the

   report was received at ChildLine.

      (6)   The purpose of the law, the implications of the status determination of

   the report and the services available through the county agency.

      (7)   The effect that a founded or indicated report of child abuse will have

   on a person seeking employment in a child care service or in a school.

      (8)   That  the  agency  has,  will  or  may  make  a  report  to  law  enforcement

   officials.

   (c)   The written notice required by subsection (b) may be reasonably delayed

if notification is likely to threaten the safety of the victim, the safety of a nonper-

petrator subject or the safety of an investigating county agency worker, to cause

the  perpetrator  to  abscond  or  to  significantly  interfere  with  the  conduct  of  a

criminal investigation. The written notice shall be provided to all subjects prior

to the county agency determining the status of the report and regardless of where

the person lives.

   (d)   Except for the subject child, the county agency shall notify all subjects in

writing of one of the following when the county agency determines that the report

is unfounded:

      (1)   The information will be kept on file at the county agency and clearly

   identified as an unfounded report of suspected child abuse when the family has

   been accepted for services.

      (2)   The report is unfounded and because the family has not been accepted

   for  services  that  all  information  will  be  expunged  at  the  county  agency  upon

   notification  from  ChildLine  and  that  the  report  will  be  expunged  from  the

   pending  complaint  file  within  120-calendar  days  of  receipt  of  the  report  at

   ChildLine.

   (e)   The  county  agency  shall  provide  the  notification  required  under  subsec-

tion (d) when it notifies ChildLine of the status of the report.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.58 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211733).

                                            3490-31

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55 § 3490.59              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                         Pt.  V

                                         Notes of Decisions

Retroactive Application

   Department regulations requiring notification of person cited are not applied retroactively; failure

to notify petitioner is not a violation of due process. K. S. v. Department of Public Welfare, 564 A.2d

561 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1989).

§  3490.59.  Action by the county agency after determining the status of the

                  report.

   (a)    If the report is determined founded, indicated or unfounded and the fam-

ily has been accepted for service, the county agency shall develop and implement

a family service plan and conduct plan reviews under Chapter 3130 (relating to

administration of county children and youth social service programs).

   (b)    If the report is unfounded and not accepted for services but the family is

in need of services, other than those provided by the county agency, the county

agency shall advise the subjects of the services available.

                                               Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.59 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211733).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.55 (relating to investigation of reports of suspected child

abuse).

§  3490.60.  Services available through the county agency.

   In addition to those services required in Chapter 3130 (relating to administra-

tion  of  county  children  and  youth  social  service  programs)  the  county  agency

shall provide, arrange or otherwise make available the following services for the

prevention and treatment of child abuse:

      (1)    Emergency       medical    services    which    include    appropriate     emergency

   medical care for examination, evaluation and treatment of children suspected of

   being abused.

      (2)    Self-help  groups  to  encourage  self-treatment  of  present  and  potential

   abusers.

      (3)    Multidisciplinary  teams  composed  of  professionals  from  a  variety  of

   disciplines  who  are  consultants  to  the  county  agency  in  its  case  management

   responsibilities as required by Chapter 3130 who perform one of the following

   functions:

         (i)     Pool their knowledge and skills to assist the county agency in diag-

      nosing child abuse.

         (ii)    Provide or recommend comprehensive coordinated treatment.

         (iii)   Periodically  assess  the  relevance  of  the  treatment  and  the  progress

      of the family.

                                             3490-32

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Ch.  3490                         PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.61

        (iv)     Participate in the State or local child fatality review team authorized

      under  section  6340(a)(4)  and  6343(b)  of  the  CPSL  (relating  to  release  of

      information  in  confidential  reports;  and  performance  audit),  convened  by  a

      professional, organization and the county agency for the purpose of investi-

      gating a child fatality or the development and promotion of strategies to pre-

      vent child fatality.

                                               Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.60 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211734).

                                          Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.62  (relating  to  repeated  child  abuse);  and  55  Pa. Code

§  3490.235 (relating to services available through the county agency for children in need of general

protective services).

§  3490.61.  Supervisory review and child contacts.

   (a)    The county agency supervisor shall review each report of suspected child

abuse which is under investigation on a regular and ongoing basis to ensure that

the level of services are consistent with the level of risk to the child, to determine

the safety of the child and the progress made toward reaching a status determi-

nation. The supervisor shall maintain a log of these reviews which at a minimum

shall include an entry at 10-calendar day intervals during the investigation period.

   (b)    When a case has been accepted for service and a family service plan has

been  developed  under  Chapter  3130  (relating  to  the  administration  of  county

children and youth social service programs), the county agency supervisor shall,

within 10-calendar days of the completion of the family service plan, review the

plan  to  assure  that  the  level  of  activity,  in  person  contacts  with  the  child,  over-

sight, supervision and services for the child and family contained in the plan, are

consistent  with  the  level  of  risk  determined  by  the  county  agency  for  the  case.

Documentation of this review shall be in the case record.

   (c)    When     a  case  has   been    accepted    for  service,   the   county    agency    shall

monitor the safety of the child and assure that contacts are made with the child,

parents and service providers. The contacts may occur either directly by a county

agency worker or through purchase of service, by phone or in person but face-to-

face contacts with the parent and the child must occur as often as necessary for

the protection of the child but no less often than:

      (1)    Once a week until the case is no longer designated as high risk by the

   county agency, if the child remains in or returns to the home in which the abuse

   occurred and the county agency has determined a high level of risk exists for

   the case.

      (2)    Once a month for 6 months or case closure when the child is either:

        (i)      Placed out of the home or setting in which the abuse occurred.

                                             3490-33

(257473)  No. 298     Sep.  99

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55 § 3490.62              CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                          Pt.  V

         (ii)    Not at a high risk of abuse or neglect.

   (d)    A periodic assessment of the risk of harm to the child shall be conducted

as required by the State-approved risk assessment process.

   (e)    The  county  agency  shall  monitor  the  provision  of  services  and  evaluate

the  effectiveness  of  the  services  provided  under  the  family  service  plan  under

§  3130.63 (relating to review of family service plans). The county agency worker

shall   visit  the  family    in  performing      the  case   management        responsibilities    as

required by §  3130.63 as often as necessary for management of the services pro-

vided but at least every 180-calendar days.

   (f)    The family service plan shall contain a provision that requires the parents

advise the county agency, within 24 hours, when the child or family move from

one residence to another.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.61 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211734) to (211735).

§  3490.62.  Repeated child abuse.

   If  the  child  is  a  victim  of  one  substantiated  incident  of  child  abuse  and  the

county agency receives a subsequent report of suspected child abuse, the county

agency administrator or supervisor shall arrange for a review by the multidisci-

plinary team as required by §  3490.60 (relating to services available through the

county agency). Prior to the meeting with the multidisciplinary team, the agency

administrator or designee, the supervisor and caseworker shall review the family

service  plan  and  make  a  recommendation  to  the  multidisciplinary  team  on  the

appropriateness  of  the  family  service  plan  and  whether  additional  or  different

services  are  necessary  to  protect  the  child. The  county  agency  shall  modify  the

family service plan, if necessary and appropriate, to reflect the recommendations

of  the  multidisciplinary  team  and  implement  action  necessary  to  fulfill  the  rec-

ommendations.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.62 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211735).

§  3490.63.  [Reserved].

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.63 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211735).

                                              3490-34

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Ch.  3490                         PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.64

§  3490.64.  [Reserved].

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.64 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211735) to (211736).

§  3490.65.  [Reserved].

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.65 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211736).

§  3490.66.  [Reserved].

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.66 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211736).

§  3490.67.  Written reports to ChildLine.

   (a)    The  county  agency  shall  send  the  Child  Protective  Service  Investigation

Report form (CY-48) to ChildLine within 30-calendar days of the receipt of the

report of suspected child abuse.

   (b)    To   avoid   expunction      of  a  case   as  required    by   §  3490.69    (relating    to

reports not received within 60-calendar days) when a status determination cannot

be  made  and  the  county  agency  has  petitioned  the  juvenile  court,  an  arrest  has

been made or there is criminal court action pending, the county agency shall send

a copy of the CY-48 to ChildLine with one of the following status determinations:

      (1)    Pending juvenile court action.

      (2)    Pending criminal court action.

      (3)    Indicated, when there is substantial evidence that the child was abused.

   (c)    The county agency shall submit a new CY-48 to ChildLine as required in

subsection (a) when a final status determination is made under subsection (b).

   (d)    A supplemental child abuse report form shall be submitted to ChildLine

on  founded  and  indicated  reports  when  additional  case  information  is  obtained,

including dates of birth, identity of the subjects, additional information about the

nature of the abuse, or the case is presented before a court and there is a change

in the status of the report.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.67 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211736) to (211737).

                                              3490-35

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55 § 3490.68                 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                               Pt.  V

                                             Notes of Decisions

Accrual Date

   A  judicial  adjudication  in  a  criminal  case  occurs  when  an  appealable  judgment  of  sentence  is

imposed; under this interpretation, a suspension of the 60-day investigation/final determination period

does not end with the entry of a plea in a criminal case, rather, the suspension may continue until a

final,  appealable  judgment  of  sentence  is  imposed. J.C.  v.  Department  of  Public  Welfare ,  980 A.2d

743, 748 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).

   Denial  of  mother’s  request  for  expungement  of  child-abuse  report  from  State-wide  registry  was

appropriate    even  though    County   and   Youth   Services   (CYS)    filed final  child-abuse   report   as

‘‘founded’’ more  than  60  days  after  mother  pleaded  no  contest  to  two  counts  of  aggravated  assault

against child; while abuse case was pending in criminal court, the 60-day reporting requirement was

suspended  until  mother  was  sentenced. J.C.  v.  Department  of  Public  Welfare ,  980  A.2d  743,  748

(Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).

                                              Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §      3490.56 (relating to county agency investigation of suspected

child  abuse  perpetrated  by  persons  employed  or  supervised  by  child  care  agencies  and  residential

facilities).

§  3490.68.  Retention of information on unfounded reports.

   (a)     When a county agency determines that a report of suspected child abuse

is  unfounded  but  accepts  the  family  for  services,  the  agency  shall  maintain  the

records  under  Chapter  3130  (relating  to  administration  of  county  children  and

youth social service programs).

   (b)     If the county agency has determined that a report is unfounded, the status

of the report may not be changed subsequently to founded or indicated. If addi-

tional information surrounding the incident becomes available, the county agency

shall file a new report with ChildLine.

                                                    Source

   The provisions of this §    3490.68 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211737).

§  3490.69.  Reports not received within 60-calendar days.

   When the CY-48 form is not filed with ChildLine within 60-calendar days of

receipt of the report by ChildLine, the report shall be unfounded.

                                                    Source

   The provisions of this §    3490.69 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211737).

                                             Notes of Decisions

Accrual Date

   The  date  on  which  the  known  perpetrator  of  child  abuse  is  reported  to  the  Department’s  central

register, not when the matter is referred to children and youth services, triggers the 60-day time limit

within  which  the  agency  must  complete  its  investigation.  Cumberland  County  Children  and  Youth

Services v. Department of Public Welfare, 611 A.2d 1339 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1992); appeal denied 619 A.2d

701 (Pa. 1993).

                                                  3490-36

(347476)  No. 424       Mar.   10                                     Copyright  2010 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

----------------------- Page 39-----------------------

Ch.  3490                           PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                  55 § 3490.70

   A  judicial  adjudication  in  a  criminal  case  occurs  when  an  appealable  judgment  of  sentence  is

imposed; under this interpretation, a suspension of the 60-day investigation/final determination period

does not end with the entry of a plea in a criminal case, rather, the suspension may continue until a

final,  appealable  judgment  of  sentence  is  imposed. J.C.  v.  Department  of  Public  Welfare ,  980 A.2d

743, 748 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).

   Denial  of  mother’s  request  for  expungement  of  child-abuse  report  from  State-wide  registry  was

appropriate   even   though   County   and  Youth   Services   (CYS)    filed final  child-abuse   report  as

‘‘founded’’ more  than  60  days  after  mother  pleaded  no  contest  to  two  counts  of  aggravated  assault

against child; while abuse case was pending in criminal court, the 60-day reporting requirement was

suspended  until  mother  was  sentenced. J.C.  v.  Department  of  Public  Welfare ,  980  A.2d  743,  748

(Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).

                                             Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.67 (relating to written reports to ChildLine).

§  3490.70.  Expunction and amendment of report by the county agency.

   The county agency shall amend or expunge a record of child abuse upon noti-

fication from ChildLine. The county agency shall expunge all information in its

possession in unfounded, founded and indicated reports of child abuse upon noti-

fication from ChildLine. The county agency shall notify those to whom it gave

information to take similar action.

                                               3490-36.1

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                                                3490-36.2

(347478)  No. 424    Mar.    10                               Copyright  2010 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                                 55 § 3490.71

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.70 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211737) to (211738).

§  3490.71.  Guardian ad litem and court designated advocate.

   The county agency shall cooperate with and provide information to a guardian

ad litem appointed under section 6382 of the CPSL (relating to guardian ad litem

for child in court proceedings) and the court designated advocate. When appro-

priate,  because  of  the  age  or  mental  and  emotional  condition  of  the  child,  the

guardian ad litem in addition to representing the best interests of the child shall

also determine the wishes of the child concerning the proceedings and shall com-

municate this information to the court.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.71 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211738).

§  3490.72.  [Reserved].

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.72 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  reserved  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211738).

§  3490.73.  Petitioning the court.

   The county agency shall petition the court if one of the following applies:

      (1)    Placement or continued placement of a child is necessary.

      (2)    A subject  of  the  report  of  suspected  child  abuse  refuses  to  cooperate

   with the county agency in an investigation, and the county agency is unable to

   determine whether the child is at risk.

      (3)    The parents refuse services, and the county agency determines that ser-

   vices are in the best interests of the child.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.73 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (211738).

                                           Notes of Decisions

Probable Cause

   Department  of  Public  Welfare  regulations  required  Children  and Youth  (C & Y)  to  make  at  least

one home visit during a child abuse investigation and if home visit was refused, C & Y was required

to petition court to order the home visit; however, for court to grant petition, request must be based

on probable cause that an act of child abuse or neglect had occurred. In Re Petition to Compel Coop-

eration, 875 A.2d 365, 374 (Pa. Super. 2005).

                                               3490-37

(315879)  No. 375      Feb.  06

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55 § 3490.81             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                      Pt.  V

                        CHILD ABUSE BY AGENTS OF THE

                                    COUNTY AGENCY

§  3490.81.  Responsibilities of the Department and the county agency.

   (a)   When the suspected abuse has been committed by an agent of the county

agency,  the  regional  staff  shall  investigate  the  report  under  section  6362  of  the

CPSL (relating to responsibilities of county agency for child protective services)

and this chapter. The regional staff may not do any of the following:

     (1)    Take protective custody.

     (2)    Petition the court.

     (3)    Provide services.

   (b)   If a report is determined indicated or founded and the regional staff deter-

mines  that  services  are  necessary,  the  regional  staff,  the  county  agency  in  the

county where the abuse occurred and the county agency with custody or supervi-

sion of the child, if different, shall plan for social and rehabilitative services for

the child and perpetrator. The plan shall identify which county is responsible for

case management.

   (c)   Regional  staff  shall  conduct  the  investigation  regardless  of  the  relation-

ship of the agent to the subject child.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.81 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211738) to (211739).

                                   CONFIDENTIALITY

§  3490.91.  Persons to whom child abuse information shall be made avail-

                  able.

   (a)   Reports, report summaries and other accompanying information obtained

under  the  CPSL  and  this  chapter  in  the  possession  of  the  Department  and  a

county  agency  are  confidential.  Except  for  the  subject  of  a  report,  persons  who

receive information under this section shall be advised that they are subject to the

confidentiality provisions of the CPSL and this chapter, that they are required to

insure the confidentiality and security of the information and that they are liable

for civil and criminal penalties for releasing information to persons who are not

permitted  access  to  this  information. This  material  shall  only  be  released  under

the CPSL and this chapter and be made available only to the following:

     (1)    An authorized official of a county agency or of an agency of another

   state  that  performs  protective  services  analogous  to  those  services  performed

   by  county  agencies  or  the  Department  in  the  course  of  the  official’s  duties,

   multidisciplinary  team  members  assigned  to  the  case  and  authorized  persons

   providing  services  by  referral  or  under  section  6364  of  the  CPSL (relating  to

                                            3490-38

(315880)  No. 375    Feb.  06                                Copyright  2006 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

----------------------- Page 43-----------------------

Ch.  3490                     PROTECTIVE SERVICES                         55 § 3490.91

  purchasing services of other agencies). The name of the person who made the

  report or cooperated in the investigation may be released to county agencies in

  this  Commonwealth  and  out-of-State  agencies  providing  protective  services

  provided  they  have  a  legitimate  need  to  know  this  information  to  protect  the

  child and the person requesting the information can assure the confidentiality

  of the identity of the persons who made the report or cooperated in the inves-

  tigation.

     (2)   A physician examining or treating a child or the director of a hospital

  or medical facility treating a child, if the physician or the director of a hospital

  or medical facility suspects the child of being an abused child.

     (3)   A guardian ad litem and court designated advocate for the child.

     (4)   An authorized official or agent of the Department including the follow-

  ing:

       (i)     The Secretary.

       (ii)    Deputy Secretaries of the Department and designated staff, in cases

     involving alleged or actual abuse of children in facilities or programs under

     their jurisdiction.

       (iii)   ChildLine staff.

       (iv)    Authorized officials or agents of the Department who are conduct-

     ing a performance audit as authorized under section 6343 of the CPSL (relat-

     ing to investigating performance of county agency) and this chapter.

     (5)   A  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  under  a  court  order  or  a  court  of

  common pleas upon written request from a judge in connection with any mat-

  ter involving custody of a child.

       (i)     When  the  Department  receives  a  written  request  under  this  para-

     graph,  ChildLine  will  send  to  the  court  copies  of  the  Report  of  Suspected

     Child Abuse  (CY-47);  the  ChildLine  Report  of  Suspected  Child Abuse  and

     Neglect  For  ChildLine  Use  Only  (CY-47C);  the  Child  Protective  Service

     Investigation Report (CY-48); and the Child Protective Service Supplemen-

     tal Report   (CY-49)   on  file at  ChildLine   involving   the  subject  child,  the

     child’s siblings and their parents.

       (ii)    If the court requests specific files or information that is not on file

     at ChildLine, ChildLine will notify the county agency administrator to pro-

     vide the information directly to the court.

     (6)   A standing committee of the General Assembly, under section 6384 of

  the CPSL (relating to legislative oversight).

     (7)   The Attorney General.

     (8)   Federal auditors, if required for Federal financial participation in fund-

  ing  of  agencies,  but  Federal  auditors  may  not  remove  identifiable  reports  or

  copies of them from the Department or county agencies.

     (9)   Law enforcement officials of any jurisdiction inside or outside of this

  Commonwealth  if  the  information  is  relevant  in  the  course  of  investigating

  cases of:

                                        3490-39

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55 § 3490.91             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

        (i)     Homicide,     sexual   abuse   or  exploitation,   or  serious   bodily   injury

     perpetrated by persons whether or not related to the victim.

        (ii)    Suspected  child  abuse  perpetrated  by  persons  who  are  not  family

     members.

        (iii)   Repeated physical injury to a child under circumstances which indi-

     cate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened.

        (iv)    A missing child report.

     (10)   Law  enforcement  officials  who  shall  immediately  receive  reports  of

   suspected child abuse from the county agency, when the initial report or initial

   review by the county agency gives evidence that the alleged child abuse is one

   of the following:

        (i)     Homicide,     sexual   abuse   or  exploitation,   or  serious   bodily   injury

     perpetrated by persons whether or not related to the child.

        (ii)    Child abuse perpetrated by persons who are not family members.

     (11)   Designated county officials in reviewing the competence of the county

   agency  or  its  employes  under  the  CPSL and  this  chapter.  Officials  under  this

   paragraph are limited to the following:

        (i)     The board of commissioners in counties other than counties of the

     first class.

        (ii)    The mayor of a city of the first class under the act of April 21, 1949

     (P. L. 665, No. 155), known as the First Class City Home Rule Act.

        (iii)   An individual serving as a county chief executive as designated by

     a  county  home  rule  charter  or  optional  plan  form  of  government  under  the

     act of April 13, 1972 (P. L. 184, No. 62), known as the Home Rule Charter

     and Optional Plans Law.

     (12)   A subject of the report upon written request.

     (13)   A person, agency or institution, upon written consent of all subjects of

   the report may receive a copy of the reports on file with the county agency and

   ChildLine.

     (14)   Individuals authorized by the Department to conduct studies of data, if

   the study does not contain the name or other information by which the subjects

   of reports may be identified.

     (15)   Required reporters of suspected child abuse whose access to informa-

   tion is limited to the following:

        (i)     The final status of the report following the investigation, whether it

     be indicated, founded or unfounded.

        (ii)    Services  provided  or  arranged  by  the  county  agency  to  protect  the

     child   from   further  child   abuse.  This   information     may   be  released    to the

     required  reporter  at  any  time  after  the  report  of  suspected  child  abuse  has

     been made.

     (16)   A prospective adoptive parent, approved by an adoption agency, when

   considering  adopting  an  abused  child  in  the  custody  of  a  county  agency. The

   adoption agency and the county agency having custody of the child shall deter-

                                           3490-40

(257480)  No. 298    Sep.  99                               Copyright  1999 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                               55 § 3490.91

   mine  the  scope  and  detail  of  information  which  shall  be  provided  so  that  the

   prospective parent may make an informed decision to adopt.

      (17)   Members of a local or State child fatality review team authorized under

   sections 6340(a)(4) and 6343(b) of the CPSL (relating to release of information

   in  confidential  reports;  and  investigating  performance  of  county  agency),  for-

   mally organized for the purpose of assisting in the investigation of child death

   or  the  development  and  promotion  of  strategies  to  prevent  child  death.  The

   information     shall   be   provided     only   through    staff   of  the  county     agency    or

   Department who are members of the team.

   (b)    Prospective  child  care  service  employe  applicants,  prospective  adoptive

and foster parents, prospective administrators and prospective operators of child

care  services,  and  any  person  seeking  voluntary  certification  may  request  and

receive information concerning whether there exists on file in the Statewide Cen-

tral  Register  indicated  or  founded  reports  of  child  abuse  naming  the  person  as

perpetrator of child abuse under section 6344 of the CPSL (relating to informa-

tion relating to prospective child-care personnel).

   (c)    Information  on  file  at  the  Statewide  Central  Register  as  a  result  of  a

request to amend or expunge a founded or indicated report of child abuse under

§§  3490.105  and  3490.105a  (relating  to  request  by  the  subject  of  a  founded  or

indicated report for expunction or amendment of an abuse report when the report

was received by ChildLine prior to July 1, 1995; and request by a perpetrator to

amend or expunge an indicated report of child abuse received by ChildLine after

June 30, 1995) may only be released to the Secretary or Secretary’s designees in

the course of their official duties and the Attorney General when conducting an

audit under section 6345 of the CPSL (relating to audits by Attorney General).

   (d)    A person, including a law enforcement official, who willfully breaches the

confidentiality or security of information that the person received under this sub-

section, in addition to other civil or criminal penalties provided by law, shall be

denied access to any confidential child abuse information in the future.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.91 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988,

20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding

text appears at serial pages (211739) to (211740) and (229421).

                                          Notes of Decisions

Children in File—Disclosure of File

   A child placed in foster care, who alleges abuse while in care, has the right to access documents

that pertain to the foster care stay; however, the child does not have an unlimited right to access the

entire file. S. M. ex rel. R.M. v. Children & Youth Services of Delaware County, 686 A.2d 872 (Pa.

Cmwlth. 1996).

Statute Has Priority Over Conflicting Regulation

   Where there is a conflict between the statute and a regulation purporting to implement the provi-

sions of that statute, the regulation must give way. Dauphin v. Department of Public Welfare, 855 A.2d

159, 165 note 6 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004)

                                              3490-41

(337559)  No. 408      Nov.  08

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55 § 3490.92             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                        Pt.  V

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.92 (relating to requests by and referrals to law enforce-

ment  officials); 55 Pa. Code §  3490.93  (relating to requests by designated  county  officials); 55

Pa. Code §  3490.94 (relating to release of the identity of a person who made a report of child abuse

or cooperated in a subsequent investigation); 55 Pa. Code §  3490.95 (relating to release of informa-

tion  to  required  reporters);  55  Pa. Code  §  3490.193  (relating  to  other  provisions);  and  55  Pa. Code

§  3800.20 (relating to confidentiality of records).

§  3490.92.  Requests by and referrals to law enforcement officials.

   (a)   Requests for child abuse information by law enforcement officials under

§  3490.91(a)(9)  (relating  to  persons  to  whom  child  abuse  information  shall  be

made available) shall be made with the following requirements:

      (1)    Requests shall be in writing and signed by the law enforcement official.

      (2)    Requests  shall  indicate  that  the  child  abuse  information  is  needed  by

   the law enforcement official in the course of investigating a case of the follow-

   ing:

        (i)     Homicide,  sexual  abuse  or  exploitation,  or  serious  bodily  injury,

     perpetrated by persons whether or not related to the victim.

        (ii)    Child abuse perpetrated by persons who are not family members.

        (iii)   Repeated  physical  injury  to  a  child  under  circumstances  that  indi-

      cate that a child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened.

        (iv)    A missing child report.

      (3)    The information shall include the names of the persons who made the

   report  and  who  cooperated  in  the  investigation  when  requested  by  the  law

   enforcement official.

   (b)   Referrals to law enforcement officials required by §              3490.91(a)(10) shall

be made with the following requirements:

      (1)    Referrals shall be made by the county agency to the district attorney or

   other appropriate law enforcement official.

      (2)    Referrals shall be made if the initial report to or initial review by the

   county  agency  gives  evidence  that  the  alleged  abuse  perpetrated  by  persons

   whether or not related to the child is one of the following:

        (i)     Homicide.

        (ii)    Sexual abuse or exploitation.

        (iii)   Serious bodily injury.

      (3)    Referrals shall be made if the initial report to or initial review by the

   county agency gives evidence that the alleged child abuse is child abuse per-

   petrated by persons who are not family members.

      (4)    If during the course of investigating a report of suspected child abuse,

   the  county    agency     obtains   evidence     which    indicates    that  referral   to  law

   enforcement officials is appropriate, the county agency shall immediately refer

   the report to the law enforcement official.

                                            3490-42

(337560)  No. 408    Nov.   08                                Copyright  2008 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                              55 § 3490.93

      (5)    The county agency may not refer to law enforcement officials reports

   of suspected child abuse which do not meet the requirements of paragraphs (2)

   and (3).

      (6)    Reports  shall  be  made  verbally  under  policies  and  procedures  devel-

   oped in conjunction with the district attorney and other law enforcement offi-

   cials.

      (7)    Reports shall be made in writing on the next work day when the report

   is made verbally or within 24 hours of when the county agency determines that

   the report meets the criteria for making a report to law enforcement officials.

   Written reports shall be made on forms developed by the Department.

      (8)    The county agency shall release the names of the person who made the

   report  or  cooperated  in  the  investigation  to  law  enforcement  officials  upon

   request.

   (c)   If the complaint of suspected abuse is determined to be one which cannot

be investigated by the county agency because the person accused of the abuse is

not a perpetrator, but does suggest the need for investigation, the county agency

shall immediately transmit the information to the appropriate authorities.

   (d)   The  county  agency  may  not  provide  information  to  a  law  enforcement

official under this section, unless the law enforcement official is known to or has

exhibited proper identification to the county agency.

   (e)   Law  enforcement  officials  shall  treat  all  reporting  sources  and  persons

who cooperated in the investigation as confidential informants.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.92 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (229421) to (229422).

                                         Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.94  (relating  to  release  of  the  identity  of  a  person  who

made a report of child abuse or cooperated in a subsequent investigation); and 55 Pa. Code § 3800.20

(relating to confidentiality of records).

§  3490.93.  Requests by designated county officials.

   Requests    for  child   abuse    information    by   designated     county   officials   under

§  3490.91(a)(11) (relating to persons to whom child abuse information shall be

made available) shall be made under the following requirements:

      (1)    Requests shall be made in writing and addressed to the county admin-

   istrator.

      (2)    Requests shall be signed by:

        (i)     A majority of the county commissioners.

        (ii)    The mayor of a city of the first class.

        (iii)   The county chief executive.

                                            3490-43

(257483)  No. 298     Sep.  99

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55 § 3490.94               CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                           Pt.  V

      (3)    Requests shall indicate that the information is needed by the designated

   county  officials  as  part  of  an  investigation  of  the  competence  of  a  county

   agency or county agency employe.

      (4)    Requests shall identify the specific files needed.

      (5)    The county agency shall provide the requested information and inform

   the designated county officials that the information may not be released to any-

   one except those permitted access to this information under §  3490.91 and that

   they are subject to §       3490.102 (relating to criminal liability for breach of con-

   fidentiality).

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.93 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (229422).

                                           Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.193  (relating  to  other  provisions);  and  55  Pa. Code

§  3800.20 (relating to confidentiality of records).

§  3490.94.  Release of the identity of a person who made a report of child

                   abuse or cooperated in a subsequent investigation.

   (a)    Except for the release of the identity of the persons who made a report of

suspected  child  abuse  or  cooperated  in  the  investigation  under  §              3490.91(a)(9)

and (10) and 3490.92(a)(3) (relating to persons to whom child abuse information

shall  be  made  available;  and  requests  by  and  referrals  to  law  enforcement  offi-

cials),  the  release  of  data  that  would  identify  the  person  who  made  a  report  of

suspected child abuse or person who cooperated in a subsequent investigation is

prohibited,  unless  the  Secretary  finds  that  the  release  will  not  be  detrimental  to

the safety of the person.

   (b)    Prior to releasing information under subsection (a) to anyone other than a

law enforcement official under subsection (a), the Secretary will notify the per-

son  whose  identity  would  be  released  that  the  person  has  30-calendar  days  to

advise the Secretary why this anticipated release would be detrimental to the per-

son’s safety.

                                                 Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.94 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (229422) to (229423).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §   3490.104 (relating to release of information to a subject of a

report); 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions); and 55 Pa. Code §     3800.20 (relating

to confidentiality of records).

                                               3490-44

(257484)  No. 298      Sep.  99                                  Copyright  1999 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

----------------------- Page 49-----------------------

Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                            55 § 3490.95

§  3490.95.  Release of information to required reporters.

   The  release  of  information  by  the  county  agency  to  required  reporters  under

§  3490.91(a)(15) (relating to persons to whom child abuse information shall be

made available) is subject to the following:

     (1)    The information released by the county agency shall concern the same

   child who was the subject of the report made by the required reporter.

     (2)    The  required  reporter  shall  request  the  information,  either  verbally  or

   in writing.

     (3)    Before  releasing  the  allowable  information,  the  county  agency  shall

   verify the identity of the required reporter in one of the following ways:

        (i)     The   county    agency    shall  be  able   to  recognize    the  voice   of  the

     required reporter when the request is made verbally by telephone.

        (ii)    If the county agency is not familiar with the required reporter and

     does  not  recognize  the  reporter’s  voice  the  county  agency  may  verify  the

     request of the required reporter by returning the telephone call to the report-

     er’s place of employment.

        (iii)   If  the  county  agency  is  unable  to  verify  a  telephone  request  for

     information  from  a  required  reporter  under  subparagraphs  (i)  and  (ii),  the

     county    agency    shall   obtain   a  written   request    for  information     from   the

     required reporter.

     (4)     The    county      agency      shall    release     the   information        under

   §  3490.91(a)(15) when requested by a required reporter.

     (5)     The     county     agency      may     release     the    information        under

   §  3490.91(a)(15), either verbally or in writing, to the required reporter whether

   or not a request for information was received.

     (6)    The county agency shall inform the required reporter of the reporter’s

   obligation  to  protect  the  confidentiality  of  information  released  as  required

   under   sections   6339    and   6340   of  the  CPSL  (relating     to  confidentiality    of

   reports; and release of information in confidential reports).

     (7)    The  county  agency  shall  make  an  entry  of  the  request  made  by  the

   required reporter and the response given in the case record.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.95 adopted April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply ret-

roactively to January 5, 1988, 20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B.

3513. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (229423).

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3800.20 (relating to confidentiality of records).

                                            3490-45

(257485)  No. 298    Sep.  99

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55 § 3490.101             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                          Pt.  V

                     GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD

                                 PROTECTIVE SERVICES

§  3490.101.  Sanctions.

   A staff member of the Department or county agency who willfully violates the

CPSL and this chapter is subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.101 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (229424).

§  3490.102.  Criminal liability for breach of confidentiality.

   A person  who  willfully  releases  or  permits  the  release  of  data  or  information

contained  in  the  pending  complaint  file,  the  Statewide  Central  Register  or  the

county  agency  records,  to  persons  or  agencies  not  permitted  by  this  chapter  to

receive this information shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. In

addition,  the  person  shall  be  denied  access  in  the  future  to  information  that  the

person would otherwise be entitled to receive under the CPSL and this chapter.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.102 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (229424).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.93 (relating to requests by designated county officials);

and 55 Pa. Code §   3490.126 (relating to sanctions).

§   3490.103.       Nonabuse       reports    received     by   the   county     agency    or   other

                    public agency from ChildLine.

   Public agencies, including county agencies, shall evaluate those referrals from

ChildLine made under section 6334 of the CPSL (relating to disposition of com-

plaints  received)  which  have  not  been  identified  as  reports  of  suspected  child

abuse. If, after the evaluation, the agency has reason to suspect that child abuse

occurred, the agency shall make a report of suspected abuse to ChildLine.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.103 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (229424).

§  3490.104.  Release of information to a subject of a report.

   (a)    Upon  written  request  to  a  county  agency  or  ChildLine,  a  subject  of  a

report may receive at any time a copy of the reports filed with the county agency

                                              3490-46

(257486)  No. 298     Sep.  99                                  Copyright  1999 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

----------------------- Page 51-----------------------

Ch.  3490                          PROTECTIVE SERVICES                             55 § 3490.105

and ChildLine. The identity of the person who made the report or a person who

cooperated in a subsequent investigation may be released only under §                            3490.94

(relating to release of the identity of a person who made a report of child abuse

or cooperated in a subsequent investigation).

   (b)    Upon written request, a defendant in a criminal proceeding is entitled to

the child abuse information in the possession of a county agency in accordance

with applicable law. The information is limited to the county agency record from

the date the report was made to the date the county agency determined the status

of  the  report.  The  county  agency  shall  send  the  requested  information  to  the

defendant and the district attorney. The information that is released to the defen-

dant  and  the  district  attorney  may  not  contain  the  identity  of  the  persons  who

made the report or cooperated in the investigation.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.104 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (229424) to (229425).

                                          Notes of Decisions

Children in Foster Care

   A child placed in foster care, who alleges abuse while in care, has the right to access documents

that pertain to the foster care stay; however, the child does not have an unlimited right to access the

entire file. S. M. ex rel. R. M. v. Children & Youth Servs., 686 A.2d 872 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996).

                                           Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.193 (relating to other provisions).

§  3490.105.  Request  by  the  subject  of  a  founded  or  indicated  report  for

                     expunction       or  amendment         of   an   abuse    report,     when     the

                     report was received by ChildLine prior to July 1, 1995.

   (a)    A subject of an indicated or founded report may request in writing that the

Secretary  amend  or  expunge  the  report  on  the  grounds  that  it  is  inaccurate  or

being maintained in a manner inconsistent with the CPSL and this chapter.

   (b)    The Secretary will decide whether to grant or deny a request made under

subsection (a) within 30 days from the date the request is received. The Secretary

will notify subjects of the report and the appropriate county agency of the deci-

sion by first-class mail.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.105 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial page (229425).

                                              3490-47

(257487)  No. 298      Sep.  99

----------------------- Page 52-----------------------

55 § 3490.105a           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.91 (relating to persons to whom child abuse information

shall be made available); and 55 Pa. Code §  3490.106 (relating to hearings and appeals proceedings

for reports received by ChildLine prior to July 1, 1995).

§  3490.105a.  Request by a perpetrator to amend or expunge an indicated

                     report  of  child  abuse  received  by  ChildLine  after  June  30,

                     1995.

   (a)   A perpetrator of an indicated report of child abuse may request the Sec-

retary to amend or expunge the report on the grounds that it is inaccurate or is

being maintained in a manner inconsistent with the CPSL and this chapter. The

request shall be in writing and postmarked within 45-calendar days of the mail-

ing date of the letter from ChildLine under §§  3490.40 and 3490.40a (relating to

notifications    regarding    indicated   reports;   and   notifications    regarding    founded

reports).

   (b)   The Secretary will decide within 30-calendar days whether or not to grant

the request. The Secretary will notify the perpetrator, the county agency and other

subjects in writing as follows:

      (1)   Except the subject child, all other subjects of the report when the deci-

   sion is to grant the request.

      (2)   Only the perpetrator when the decision is to deny the request.

   (c)   The notification from the Secretary will be sent by first-class mail.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.91 (relating to persons to whom child abuse information

shall be made available).

§   3490.106.       Hearings     and   appeals    proceedings      for   reports    received    by

                    ChildLine prior to July 1, 1995.

   (a)   A subject of the report and the appropriate county agency have the right

to appeal the Secretary’s decision to grant or deny a subject’s request to amend

or expunge an indicated or founded report by filing an appeal with the Secretary.

   (b)   Appeals  shall  be  in  writing  to  the  Secretary  and  be  postmarked  within

45-calendar days from the date of the Secretary’s notification letter to either grant

or deny the request.

   (c)   If a subject or county agency files an appeal under §  3490.105 (relating

to  request  by  the  subject  of  a  founded  or  indicated  report  for  expunction  or

amendment of an abuse report when the report was received by ChildLine prior

to July 1, 1995), the subject or county agency has the right to a hearing before

the Department’s Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.

   (d)   Except as provided in subsection (e), hearings will be conducted under 2

Pa.C.S. §§  501—508 and 701—704 (relating to the Administrative Agency Law)

and 1 Pa. Code Part II (relating to General Rules of Administrative Practice and

Procedures).

                                            3490-48

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Ch.  3490                           PROTECTIVE SERVICES                              55 § 3490.106a

    (e)    Hearings will be scheduled and final administrative action taken in accor-

dance with the time limits specified in §  275.4(b) and (e)(1), (3) and (5) (relat-

ing to procedures).

    (f)    The burden of proof in hearings held under this section is on the appro-

priate county agency.

    (g)    A court  finding  of  fact  of  child  abuse  is  presumptive  evidence  that  the

report was substantiated.

    (h)    Parties  to  a  hearing  held  under  this  section  have  30-calendar  days  from

the date of the final order of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals to request the

Secretary  to  reconsider  the  decision  or  appeal  the  final  order  to  the  Common-

wealth Court.

                                                   Source

   The provisions of this §   3490.106 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (229425) to (229426).

                                            Notes of Decisions

Expungement

   The  social  worker  produced  enough  evidence,  through  the  child’s  medical  history,  psychological

evaluations of the family members and interviews with relevant parties to establish that the report was

accurate and the Department properly refused to expunge the indicated report of child abuse. M.R.F.

v. Department of Public Welfare, 595 A.2d 644 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1991).

   The Department’s 45-day period during which a subject must request a hearing is not applicable

when the Department refuses rather than grants a subject’s request for expungement under 23 Pa.C.S.

§§  6301—6384 (relating to the Child Protective Servicces Law). Keely v. Department of Public Wel-

fare , 552 A.2d 739 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1989); appeal denied 568 A.2d 1250 (Pa. 1989).

Hearsay

   Uncorroborated hearsay cannot satisfy the agency’s burden unless the following requirements are

met: the statement was accurately recorded by audio or video equipment; the audio-visual record dis-

closes the identity and at all times included the images and/or voices of all individuals present during

the interview of the minor; and the statement was not made in response to questioning calculated to

lead the minor to make a particular statement and was not the product of improper suggestion. A. Y.

v. Department of Public Welfare, 641 A.2d 1148 (Pa. 1994).

Substantial Evidence

   In proceeding to expunge name of suspected abuser from child abuse registry, hearsay testimony in

conjunction with admissible corroborative evidence of the act in question can in toto constitute sub-

stantial  evidence  which  will  satisfy  the  agency’s  burden  to  justify  a  conclusion  of  abuse. A.Y.  v.

Department of Public Welfare, 641 A.2d 1148 (Pa. 1994).

§   3490.106a.         Hearings       and    appeals      proceedings        for   indicated      reports

                        received by ChildLine after June 30, 1995.

    (a)    A perpetrator may appeal the Secretary’s decision to deny the request to

expunge an indicated report by filing an appeal with the Secretary.

                                                 3490-49

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55 § 3490.107            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

   (b)   The  other  subjects  of  the  report  and  the  county  agency  may  appeal  the

Secretary’s decision to grant the request to expunge the report.

   (c)   The    request   shall   be  made    to   the  Secretary    and   postmarked      within

45-calendar days of the date of the notification letter from the Secretary to either

grant or deny the request to expunge the report.

   (d)   If an appeal is taken, there is a hearing before the Department’s Bureau

of Hearings and Appeals.

   (e)   Except as provided in subsection (f), hearings will be conducted under 2

Pa.C.S. §§  501—508 and 701—704 (relating to the Administrative Agency Law)

and 1 Pa. Code Part II (relating to General Rules of Administrative Practice and

Procedure).

   (f)   Hearings will be scheduled and final administrative action taken in accor-

dance with the time limits specified in §           275.4(b) and (e)(1), (3) and (5) (relat-

ing to procedures).

   (g)   The burden of proof in hearings held under this section is on the appro-

priate county agency.

   (h)   Parties  to  a  hearing  held  under  this  section  have  15-calendar  days  from

the  mailing  date  of  the  final  order  of  the  Bureau  of  Hearings  and  Appeals  to

request the Secretary to reconsider the decision or 30-calendar days to appeal the

final order to the Commonwealth Court.

   (i)   An  administrative  appeal  proceeding  will  be  automatically  stayed  upon

notice  to  the  Department  by  any  subject  or  the  county  agency  that  there  is  a

pending  criminal  proceeding  or  a  dependency  or  delinquency  proceeding  under

the Juvenile Act including an appeal thereof, involving the same factual circum-

stances.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.106a adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.107.  Notification  of  Secretary’s  decision  to  amend  or  expunge  a

                    report of child abuse.

   The Secretary, after ordering a record to be amended or expunged, shall advise

ChildLine of the decision.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.107 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4547;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (229426) to (229427).

§  3490.108.  Cooperation  of  county  agencies  and  law  enforcement  agen-

                    cies.

   Consistent with this chapter, the county agencies and law enforcement agencies

shall  cooperate     and  coordinate,    to  the  fullest  extent   possible,   their  efforts   to

respond to reports of suspected child abuse.

                                            3490-50

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.109

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.108 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.109.  Report from law enforcement agencies.

   The law enforcement agency shall, as soon as possible and without jeopardiz-

ing  the  criminal  investigation  or  prosecution,  advise  the  county  agency  as  to

whether a criminal investigation has been undertaken and the results of the inves-

tigation  and  of  any  criminal  prosecution  in  cases  of  suspected  child  abuse. The

county  agency  shall  ensure  that  the  information  is  referred  to  ChildLine  in  a

timely manner.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.109 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

       VERIFICATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND

       STUDENT ABUSE RECORDS FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES

§  3490.121.  Definitions.

   The following words and terms, when used in this section and §§  3490.122—

3490.127  (relating  to  verification  of  the  existence  of  child  abuse  and  student

abuse  records  for  child  care  services)  have  the  following  meanings,  unless  the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

     Administrator—A person hired by or under contract with a legal entity to be

   responsible for the management and operation of a child care service.

     Applicant—A person  who  will  have  direct  contact  with  children  in  a  child

   care service, who does one of the following:

        (i)     Applies for gainful employment in a child care service, including an

     administrator, or other support personnel.

        (ii)    Applies  for  employment  with  a  contractor  who  is  under  contract

     with a child care facility or program.

        (iii)   Is  employed  by  a  contractor  seeking  a  contract  with  a  child  care

     facility or program.

     Child care service—

        (i)     Child  day  care  centers,  group  and  family  day  care  homes,  foster

     homes,  adoptive  parents,  boarding  homes  for  children,  juvenile  detention

     center  services  or  programs  for  delinquent  or  dependent  children;  mental

     health,  mental  retardation,  early  intervention  and  drug  and  alcohol  services

     for children; and other child care services which are provided by or subject

     to  approval,  licensure,  registration  or  certification  by  the  Department  or  a

     county  social  services  agency  or  which  are  provided  under  a  contract  with

     the Department or a county social services agency.

                                           3490-51

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55 § 3490.122            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

        (ii)    The    term   does   not  include   services    or  programs     which   may    be

     offered by public and private schools, intermediate units or area vocational-

     technical schools.

      Child caretaker—

        (i)     A person whether compensated or not who provides care for a child

     and who voluntarily solicits certification from the Department under section

     6344 of the CPSL (relating to information relating to prospective child-care

     personnel).

        (ii)    The term includes a babysitter, scout leader or den parent.

     Direct  contact  with  children—Access  to  children  by  a  paid  employe  of  or

   person under contract with a child care service who has routine and unsuper-

   vised access to children in the course of carrying out the employe’s responsi-

   bilities in a child care service.

     Legal entity—Includes a society partnership, corporation or another govern-

   ing authority legally responsible for the administration and operation of a child

   care service.

      Operator—A person who provides a child care service but is not hired by or

   under contract with a legal entity.

     Permanent  employe—A child  care  worker  who  meets  one  of  the  following

   conditions:

        (i)     Has met the requirement of §  3490.122 (relating to responsibilities

     of an applicant, prospective operator or legal entity of a child care service).

        (ii)    Was  employed  prior  to  January  1,  1986,  and  was  not  required  to

      submit the requests for clearances.

     Request  for  verification—A request  to  the  Statewide  Central  Register  from

   an applicant, operator of a child care service, foster parent or adoptive parent

   or  a  child  caretaker  seeking  voluntary  certification  to  determine  whether  the

   applicant is named as a perpetrator in an indicated or founded report of child

   abuse.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.121 adopted December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4629; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988,

20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding

text appears at serial pages (229427) and (211747) to (211748).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 6000.31 (relating to child care service).

§  3490.122.  Responsibilities of an applicant, prospective operator or legal

                    entity of a child care service.

   (a)   An applicant or prospective operator of a child care service shall submit

a request for verification on forms provided by the Department. The request for

verification  shall  include  a  check  or  money  order  for  the  fee  charged  by  the

                                            3490-52

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                            55 § 3490.122

Department, payable to the Department of Public Welfare, which will not exceed

$10. Prospective workfare program participants are exempt from payment of the

fee.  To  obtain  a  form  for  the  clearance  statement,  an  applicant  may  call  the

ChildLine  verification  unit  at  (717)  783-6211  and  request  a  Pennsylvania  Child

Abuse History Clearance Form.

   (b)   A person who applies to the Department or the Department of Health to

operate  a  child  care  service  shall  comply  with  procedures  established  by  these

Departments for documentation of compliance with the requirements for reports

of child abuse and criminal record history information.

   (c)   An  administrator,  or  other  person  responsible  for  hiring  decisions,  may

not hire or contract with an applicant, nor may a prospective operator be issued

a certificate of compliance or registration if the Department has verified that the

applicant  or  prospective  operator  is  named  in  the  Statewide  Central  Register  as

the  perpetrator  of  a  founded  report  of  child  abuse  committed  within  5  years  or

less prior to the request for verification.

   (d)   An  administrator,  or  other  person  responsible  for  hiring  decisions,  may

not hire or contract with an applicant, nor may a prospective operator be issued

a  certificate   of  compliance      or  registration   if  the  applicant’s    criminal   history

record  information  dictates  that  the  applicant  or  prospective  operator  has  been

convicted of a crime as specified in section 6344 of the CPSL (relating to infor-

mation relating to prospective child-care personnel) or an equivalent out-of-State

crime as determined by the Department.

   (e)   An  administrator,  or  other  person  responsible  for  hiring  decisions,  may

not hire or contract with an applicant, nor may a prospective operator be issued

a certificate of compliance or registration if the applicant’s report of criminal his-

tory  record    verification   or  the   report   of  child  abuse    record   information     was

obtained more than 1 year prior to the date of application.

   (f)   An applicant or prospective operator of a child care service located in this

Commonwealth who is not a resident of this Commonwealth is required to obtain

a  report   of  criminal   history   record    from   the  Federal    Bureau    of  Investigation

according to procedures established by the Department and on forms provided by

ChildLine.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.122 adopted December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4629; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effec-

tive  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text  appears  at  serial  pages  (211748)  to

(211749).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.121 (relating to definitions).

                                            3490-53

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55 § 3490.123            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                        Pt.  V

§  3490.123.  Responsibilities  of  prospective  adoptive  parents,  prospective

                    foster parents, foster family care agencies and adoption inves-

                    tigators.

   (a)   A prospective adoptive parent or a prospective foster parent shall submit

a request for verification on forms provided by the Department. The request for

verification  shall  include  a  check  or  money  order  for  the  fee  charged  by  the

Department, payable to the Department of Public Welfare, which will not exceed

$10.

   (b)   In  the  course  of  causing  an  investigation  to  be  made  under  23  Pa.C.S.

§  2535(a) (relating to investigation), an agency or person designated by the court

to conduct the investigation shall require prospective adoptive parents to submit

the information in section 6344 of the CPSL (relating to information relating to

prospective child-care personnel) for review under subsection (d).

   (c)   In the course of approving a prospective foster parent, a foster family care

agency shall require a prospective foster parent to submit the information in sec-

tion 6344 of the CPSL for review by the foster family care agency under subsec-

tion (d).

   (d)   A  prospective  adoptive  parent  or  prospective  foster  parent  may  not  be

approved by a foster family care agency, an adoption agency, or a person desig-

nated by the court under 23 Pa.C.S. §          2535(a) when any of the following circum-

stances exist:

      (1)    The parent has been named as a perpetrator of a founded report of child

   abuse committed within 5 years or less prior to the request for verification.

      (2)    The  parent  has  been  convicted  of  a  crime  under  section  6344  of  the

   CPSL or an equivalent out-of-State crime as determined by the Department.

      (3)    The report of criminal history record information or the report of child

   abuse  record  information  was  obtained  more  than  1  year  prior  to  the  date  of

   application to the agency for approval or 1 year prior to the date of commence-

   ment of the investigation under 23 Pa.C.S. §  2535(a).

   (e)   A prospective  adoptive  parent  or  prospective  foster  parent  who  is  not  a

resident of this Commonwealth is required to obtain a report of criminal history

from the Federal Bureau of Investigation according to procedures established by

the Department and on forms provided by ChildLine.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.123 adopted December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4629; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988,

20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding

text appears at serial pages (211749) to (211750).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.121 (relating to definitions).

                                            3490-54

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                            55 § 3490.124

§  3490.124.  Departmental procedures for replying to a request for verifi-

                    cation.

   (a)   Requests for verification received on forms provided by the Department

with a check or money order payable to the Department of Public Welfare in the

amount charged by the Department will be processed. Prospective workfare par-

ticipants   are  exempt     from   payment     of  the  fee.  Others    will  be   returned   with

instruction for resubmitting the request.

   (b)   The  Department  will  advise  the  person  seeking  verification  in  writing

whether or not he is named as a perpetrator of an indicated or founded report of

child  abuse  or  a  school  employe  responsible  for  student  abuse  named  in  the

Statewide Central Register. If the person is named as a perpetrator of an indicated

or  founded  report  of  child  abuse  or  a  school  employe  responsible  for  student

abuse, the response will include the following information:

      (1)    The number of indicated or founded reports of child abuse and student

   abuse in which the person is named.

      (2)    The date of the incidents of indicated or founded reports of child abuse

   and student abuse in which the person is named.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.124 adopted December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4629; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988,

20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding

text appears at serial page (211750).

                                         Cross References

   This  section  cited  in  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.121  (relating  to  definitions);  55  Pa. Code  § 3490.125

(relating to voluntary certification of child caretakers); and 55 Pa. Code § 3490.126 (relating to sanc-

tions).

§  3490.125.  Voluntary certification of child caretakers.

   (a)   A child caretaker may request certification from the Department that the

requirements  of  section  6344  of  the  CPSL  (relating  to  information  relating  to

prospective child-care personnel) have been met.

   (b)   A child  caretaker  requesting  voluntary  certification  who  is  a  resident  of

this Commonwealth shall obtain a report of criminal history from the Pennsylva-

nia State Police and submit it to the Department with the request for verification

on forms provided by the Department.

   (c)   A child caretaker requesting voluntary certification who is not a resident

of this Commonwealth shall secure a report of criminal history from the Federal

Bureau of Investigation under procedures established by the Department on prop-

erly prepared forms provided by ChildLine.

   (d)   The Department will reply to requests for voluntary certification by pro-

viding the following:

                                            3490-55

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55 § 3490.126             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                          Pt.  V

      (1)    A copy  of  the  report  of  criminal  history  record  information  from  the

   Pennsylvania State Police.

      (2)    A report  of  child  abuse  and  student  abuse  history  record  information

   under    §  3490.124     (relating    to  Departmental       procedures      for  replying    to  a

   request for verification).

   (e)    A request  for  voluntary  certification  from  the  Department  may  be  made

no more frequently than every 2 years.

   (f)    The    Department       will  process     requests    for   voluntary     certification    it

receives on the forms developed by the Department. The request shall include a

check or money order payable to the Department of Public Welfare in the amount

charged by the Department. Others will be returned with instructions for resub-

mitting the request.

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.125 adopted December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4629; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988,

20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding

text appears at serial pages (211750) to (211751).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.121 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.126.  Sanctions.

   (a)    An administrator, or other person responsible for employment decisions in

a child care facility or program who willfully fails to comply with section 6344

of the CPSL (relating to information relating to prospective child-care personnel)

is subject to civil penalty not to exceed $2,500.

   (b)    Information  received  by  a  legal  entity,  an  administrator,  the  Department

or the Department of Health under §  3490.124 (relating to Departmental proce-

dures for replying to a request for verification) is confidential and the legal entity,

administrator,     the   Department       and   the  Department       of  Health    are   subject    to

§  3490.102 (relating to criminal liability for breach of confidentiality).

                                                Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.126 adopted December 27, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B.

4629;  amended  July  2,  1999,  effective  July  3,  1999,  29  Pa.B.  3513.  Immediately  preceding  text

appears at serial pages (211751) to (211752).

                                          Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.121 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.127.  Information relating to prospective child care personnel.

   (a)    The  administrator  of  a  child  care  service  may  employ  applicants  on  a

provisional  basis  for  a  single  period  of  employment  pending  the  receipt  of  the

                                              3490-56

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.127

required  clearances  in  accordance  with  section  6344  of  the  CPSL  (relating  to

information relating to prospective child-care personnel).

   (b)   The maximum period of employment allowed for a provisional employe

is as follows:

     (1)    Thirty calendar days for an applicant residing in this Commonwealth.

     (2)    Ninety calendar days for an out-of-State applicant.

   (c)   The administrator may employ an applicant on a provisional basis if the

administrator  has  no  knowledge  or  information  that  would  disqualify  the  appli-

cant from employment in accordance with section 6344 of the CPSL and if the

applicant has complied with each of the following:

     (1)    Mailed the requests for the required clearances to ChildLine, the State

   Police and the FBI, if applicable.

     (2)    Provided copies of these completed request forms for clearances to the

   administrator to retain as a condition of provisional employment.

     (3)    Sworn  or  affirmed  in  writing  that  the  applicant  was  not  disqualified

   from employment under section 6344 of the CPSL or an equivalent out-of-State

   crime.

   (d)   During the 30- or 90-day provisional period, the provisional employe may

not be permitted to work alone with children and shall work within the vicinity

of a permanent employe.

   (e)   If the provisional employe does not submit the required clearances within

30- or 90-calendar days of employment, whichever is applicable, the administra-

tor shall do one of the following:

     (1)    Dismiss     the  provisional    employe     until  the   required   clearances    are

   received.

     (2)    Lay off or place the provisional employe on leave with or without pay

   until the clearances are received.

     (3)    Retain and reassign the provisional employe to a position that does not

   involve direct contact with children.

   (f)   A provisional employe shall be immediately dismissed from employment

if he is disqualified from employment under section 6344 of the CPSL.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this §  3490.127 adopted April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply ret-

roactively to January 5, 1988, 20 Pa.B. 2286; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B.

3513. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (211752).

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  3490.121 (relating to definitions).

                                            3490-57

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55 § 3490.131           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                  Pt.  V

       VERIFICATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND

         STUDENT ABUSE RECORDS FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYES

§  3490.131.  Definitions.

   The following words and terms, when used in this section and §§  3490.132—

3490.136, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates oth-

erwise:

     Administrator—

        (i)    The person responsible for the administration of a public or private

     school, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.

        (ii)   The term includes a person responsible for employment decisions in

     a school and an independent contractor.

     Applicant—

        (i)    An   individual   who    applies  for  a  position   as a  school   employe

     including a person applying to be a volunteer in charter or regional charter

     schools.

        (ii)   The term includes an individual who transfers from one position as

     a school employe to another position as a school employe.

     Clearance statement—An official clearance statement from the Department

   on whether an applicant’s name is on file in the Statewide Central Register as

   a perpetrator in an indicated or founded report of child abuse or an indicated or

   founded report of student abuse, or both.

     Direct contact with students—Access to children by a school employe who

  has  routine  and  unsupervised  access  to  children  in  the  course  of  carrying  out

  the employe’s responsibilities in a school.

     Independent contractor and the contractor’s employes—A person employed

   in a position on a contractual basis with a school who has direct contact with

   students.

     Position—The  job  classification  of  a  school  employe  as  defined  and  deter-

  mined    by  existing   law,  State  regulation   or  the  school   board   or governing

   authority  including  administrative  and  supervisory  staff,  teachers,  paraprofes-

   sionals, support staff or others.

     School—All schools including public and nonpublic schools as defined in the

  Public  School  Code  of  1949  (24  P. S.  §§  1-101—27-2702)  and  private  aca-

   demic schools as defined in 22 Pa. Code Part II (relating to State Board of Pri-

  vate Academic Schools), as follows:

        (i)    Public—School        districts,  intermediate     units,  area  vocational-

     technical schools, charter and regional charter schools.

        (ii)   Registered—Nonpublic (religiously affiliated schools).

        (iii)  Licensed—Private academic schools that are licensed by the Depart-

     ment of Education (includes residential facilities that hire their own staff to

     teach residents of the facility).

                                         3490-58

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.132

        (iv)    Accredited—Accredited by an accreditation association or organiza-

     tion.

        (v)     State-owned—Scotland School and Scranton School for the Deaf.

     School employe—

        (i)     An individual employed in a position by a school.

        (ii)    The term includes independent contractors and their employes.

        (iii)   The term excludes individuals who have no direct contact with stu-

     dents.

     Substitute list—A list, approved by the hiring authority of a school, contain-

   ing the names of persons eligible to serve the school as substitute teachers or

   temporary replacements for other employes.

      Transfer—A change from one position to another.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.131 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.132.  Responsibilities of an administrator.

   (a)   An administrator shall require each applicant to submit a clearance state-

ment obtained from the Department within the immediately preceding year as to

whether  the  applicant  is  named  as  the  perpetrator  of  an  indicated  or  founded

report  of  child  abuse  or  the  individual  responsible  for  an  indicated  or  founded

report of student abuse.

   (b)   The clearance statement under subsection (a) is not required for an appli-

cant who meets the following conditions:

     (1)    Transfers from one position as a school employe to another position as

   a school employe of the same school district or of the same organization.

     (2)    Has, prior to the transfer, already obtained the official clearance state-

   ment under subsection (a).

   (c)   Except as provided in §       3490.134 (relating to information relating to pro-

spective  school  employes),  an  administrator  may  not  hire  an  applicant  if  the

applicant  is  the  perpetrator  of  a  founded  report  of  child  abuse  or  the  individual

responsible for a founded report of student abuse.

   (d)   An administrator may not hire an applicant if the clearance statement is

more than 1 year old as determined by the date on the clearance statement.

   (e)   School  administrators  shall,  in  their  contracts  with  independent  contrac-

tors  and  their  employes  who  have  direct  contact  with  students,  require  contrac-

tors to include provisions for a clearance statement as required by this chapter.

   (f)   A clearance statement is required only prior to the initial hiring of a sub-

stitute  and  remains  in  effect  as  long  as  the  substitute  continues  to  be  employed

by the same school. When a substitute seeks to have his name added to another

school’s substitute list, the substitute shall provide a current clearance statement

                                            3490-59

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55 § 3490.133            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

to the additional school. The fact that a substitute appears on one school’s sub-

stitute list is not sufficient evidence to allow another school to add the substitute’s

name to its substitute list.

   (g)   The administrator shall make a copy of the clearance statement and place

it in the employe’s personnel record.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.132 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.131 (relating to definitions); and 55 Pa. Code § 3490.134

(relating to information relating to prospective school employes).

§  3490.133.  Responsibilities of an applicant.

   (a)   An    applicant   shall  submit    a  request   for  a  clearance    statement    to  the

Department on the form provided by the Department. The request shall include a

check or money order payable to the Department of Public Welfare in the amount

specified on the application. The fee may not exceed $10.

   (b)   To  obtain  a  form  for  the  clearance  statement,  an  applicant  may  call  the

ChildLine  verification  unit  at  (717)  783-6211  and  request  a  Pennsylvania  Child

Abuse History Clearance Form.

   (c)   An applicant shall show the original clearance statement to the adminis-

trator and permit a copy to be made.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.133 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.131 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.134.  Information relating to prospective school employes.

   (a)   Section 3490.132 (relating to responsibilities of an administrator) does not

apply to a person working in a school who meets the following conditions:

     (1)    Is under 21 years of age.

     (2)    Is participating in a job development or job training program.

     (3)    Is employed for not more than 90-calendar days.

   (b)   An  administrator  may  employ  an  applicant  on  a  provisional  basis  if  the

following apply:

     (1)    The applicant attests in writing by oath or affirmation that he has sub-

   mitted   a  request    for  a  clearance    statement    and   is  not   disqualified    under

   §  3490.132.

     (2)    The administrator has no knowledge of information which would dis-

   qualify the applicant under §        3490.132.

   (c)   The provisional period may not exceed:

                                            3490-60

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.135

     (1)    Thirty-calendar days for residents of this Commonwealth.

     (2)    Ninety-calendar days for residents of another state.

   (d)   An administrator may not hire an applicant on a provisional basis during

a  strike  under    the  Public   Employee      Relations  Act     (43  P. S.  §§   1101.201—

1101.2201).

   (e)   If  the  applicant  does  not  submit  the  clearance  statement  within  30-  or

90-calendar days, whichever is applicable, the administrator shall do one of the

following:

     (1)    Dismiss the provisional employe until the required clearance statement

   is received.

     (2)    Lay off or place the provisional employe on leave with or without pay

   until the clearance statement is received.

     (3)    Retain and reassign the provisional employe to a position that does not

   involve direct contact with children.

   (f)   An administrator shall immediately dismiss a provisional employe if the

employe  is  the  perpetrator  of  a  founded  report  of  child  abuse  or  the  individual

responsible for causing serious bodily injury to or sexually abusing or exploiting

a student in a founded report of student abuse.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.134 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.131 (relating to definitions); and 55 Pa. Code §  3490.132

(relating to responsibilities of an administrator).

§  3490.135.  Responsibilities of the Department.

   (a)   Requests    for  clearance    statements    received    on  forms    provided    by  the

Department  with  a  check  or  money  order  payable  to  the  Department  of  Public

Welfare in the amount charged by the Department will be processed. The Depart-

ment will return the forms that are not completed properly with instructions for

resubmitting the request.

   (b)   The  Department  will  advise  the  person  seeking  a  clearance  statement  in

writing  whether  or  not  he  is  named  as  a  perpetrator  of  an  indicated  or  founded

report of child abuse or a school employe responsible for student abuse named in

the Statewide Central Register. If the person is named as a perpetrator of an indi-

cated or founded report of child abuse or a school employe responsible for stu-

dent abuse, the response will include the following information:

     (1)    The number of indicated or founded reports of child abuse and student

   abuse in which the person is named.

     (2)    The date of the incidents of indicated or founded reports of child abuse

   and student abuse in which the person is named.

                                            3490-61

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55 § 3490.136            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

   (c)   The  Department  will  comply  with  the  request  for  an  official  clearance

statement within 14 days of receipt of the request by the Department.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.135 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.131 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.136.  Sanctions.

   An administrator who willfully violates section 6355 of the CPSL (relating to

requirement)  shall  be  subject  to  an  administrative  penalty  of  $2,500. An  action

under  section  6355  of  the  CPSL  is  governed  by  2  Pa.C.S.  §§            501—508  and

701—704 (relating to Administrative Agency law).

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.136 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.131 (relating to definitions).

               Subchapter B.  ABUSE OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL

                                       INTRODUCTION

Sec.

3490.141.  Applicability.

3490.142.  Purpose.

3490.143.  Definitions.

                              SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

3490.151.  Required reporting.

3490.152.  Responsibilities of administrators and school employes.

3490.153.  Information provided to the district attorney and law enforcement officials.

3490.154.  Release of information by a school employe including an administrator.

                     LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

3490.161.  Responsibilities of law enforcement officials.

                                            3490-62

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.141

                              COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES

3490.171.  Receipt and investigation of reports of suspected student abuse.

3490.172.  Coordination of an investigation.

3490.173.  Notifications by the county agency.

3490.174.  Services for students.

3490.175.  Expunction and amendment of reports of student abuse by the county agency.

                          DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

3490.181.  Agents of the county agency.

3490.182.  ChildLine files.

              GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT ABUSE

3490.191.  Request by a school employe to amend or expunge an indicated report of stu-

            dent abuse.

3490.192.  Request  for  a  hearing  by  a  school  employe  for  indicated  reports  of  student

            abuse.

3490.193.  Other provisions.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this Subchapter B adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513,

unless otherwise noted.

                                     INTRODUCTION

§  3490.141.  Applicability.

   This subchapter applies to the Department, county agencies, law enforcement

officials and schools.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.142.  Purpose.

   The  purpose  of  this  subchapter  is  to  implement  the  provisions  of  the  CPSL

relating to student abuse.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.143.  Definitions.

   In addition to the definitions in §  3490.4 (relating to definitions), the follow-

ing   words    and   terms,   when    used   this  section   and   §§   3490.141,     3490.142,

3490.151—3490.154,  3490.161,  3490.171—3490.175,  3490.181,  3490.182  and

3490.191—3490.193,  have  the  following  meanings,  unless  the  context  clearly

indicates otherwise:

                                            3490-63

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55 § 3490.143           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

     Administrator—The person responsible for the administration of a public or

   private school, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school. The term

   includes an independent contractor.

     Founded report for a school employe—A report of student abuse if there is

   any  judicial  adjudication  based  on  a  finding  that  the  student  suffered  serious

   bodily injury or sexual abuse or exploitation, including the entry of a plea of

   guilty  or  nolo  contendere  or  a  finding  of  guilt  to  a  criminal  charge  involving

   the same factual circumstances involved in the allegations of student abuse.

     Indicated    report  for  a  school   employe—A  report        of  student   abuse   if an

   investigation by the county agency determines that substantial evidence of seri-

   ous bodily injury or sexual abuse or exploitation exists based on one or more

   of the following:

        (i)     Available medical evidence.

        (ii)    The county agency’s investigation.

        (iii)   An admission of causing serious bodily injury to a student or sexu-

     ally abusing or exploiting a student by the school employe.

     School—All schools including public and nonpublic schools as defined in the

   Public  School  Code  of  1949  (24  P. S.  §§      1-101—27-2702)  and  private  aca-

   demic schools as defined in 22 Pa. Code Part II (relating to State Board of Pri-

   vate Academic Schools) as follows:

        (i)     Public—School        districts,  intermediate      units,  area   vocational-

     technical schools, charter and regional charter school.

        (ii)    Registered—Nonpublic (religiously affiliated schools).

        (iii)   Licensed—Private academic schools that are licensed by the Depart-

     ment of Education (including residential facilities that hire their own staff to

     teach residents of the facility).

        (iv)   Accredited—Accredited by an accreditation association or organiza-

     tion.

        (v)     State-owned—Scotland School and Scranton School for the Deaf.

     School employe—A person employed by or under contract with a school.

     Student—An individual enrolled in a school who is under 18 years of age.

     Student abuse—One or more of the following:

        (i)     Serious bodily injury.

        (ii)    Sexual abuse or exploitation when committed by a school employe

     against a student.

     Subjects of a report—The child, parent, guardian or other person responsible

   for the welfare of the child and the school employe named in a report of sus-

   pected student abuse.

     Unfounded report for a school employe—A report of student abuse unless the

   report  is  a  founded  report  for  a  school  employe  or  an  indicated  report  for  a

   school employe.

                                           3490-64

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.151

                            SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

§  3490.151.  Required reporting.

   (a)   A school  employe  who  has  reasonable  cause  to  suspect,  on  the  basis  of

professional  or  other  training  and  experience,  that  a  student  coming  before  the

school employe in the employe’s professional or official capacity is a victim of

serious bodily injury or sexual abuse or exploitation by another school employe,

shall immediately notify the administrator of the alleged abuse or injury.

   (b)   When  a  school  employe  learns  of  suspected  student  abuse  from  another

person,  the  school  employe  shall  notify  the  administrator  of  the  alleged  student

abuse if the school employe has reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of pro-

fessional or other training and experience, that the student is a victim of serious

bodily injury or sexual abuse or exploitation by a school employe.

   (c)   If an administrator learns of suspected student abuse from another person,

the  administrator  shall  make  a  report  of  suspected  student  abuse  as  required  by

this subchapter.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.11 (relating to reporting suspected child abuse); and 55

Pa. Code §  3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.152.  Responsibilities of administrators and school employes.

   (a)   An administrator, and in certain cases a school employe, as stated in sub-

section (b), shall report immediately to law enforcement officials and the appro-

priate district attorney a report of abuse or injury alleged to have been committed

by a school employe against a student. If an administrator is the school employe

who    suspects   injury   or  abuse,   the  administrator     shall  make    a  report   to  law

enforcement officials and the appropriate district attorney.

   (b)   If the administrator is the employe suspected of abusing the student, the

school employe who suspects the abuse shall immediately report that information

to law enforcement officials and the appropriate district attorney.

   (c)   The  verbal  report  shall  be  followed  up  with  a  written  report  on  a  form

provided by the Department. Call (717) 783-1964 to obtain a copy of the form—

Report of Suspected Student Abuse (CY 47-D).

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.11 (relating to reporting suspected child abuse); and 55

Pa. Code §  3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§   3490.153.       Information       provided      to  the   district    attorney     and   law

                   enforcement officials.

   The school official shall provide the following information to the district attor-

ney and law enforcement officials on a form provided by the Department:

     (1)    The name, age and home address of the student.

                                            3490-65

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55 § 3490.154            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                      Pt.  V

     (2)    The name and address of the school.

     (3)    The name and address of the student’s parents or guardians.

     (4)    The  name  and  address  of  the  administrator  or  school  employe  who

   made the report.

     (5)    The name, work and home address of the school employe suspected of

   abusing the student.

     (6)    The nature of the alleged offense.

     (7)    Specific    comments      or  observations     that  are  directly   related  to  the

   alleged incident and the individuals involved.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§   3490.154.      Release     of  information      by  a  school    employe     including     an

                   administrator.

   (a)   Information  in  a  student  abuse  report  is  confidential  and  may  only  be

released by a school employe who made a report of suspected student abuse to:

     (1)    The administrator.

     (2)    A law enforcement official in the course of investigating the allegation

   of suspected student abuse.

   (b)   This section applies to an administrator when the administrator made the

report of suspected student abuse.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

                   LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

§  3490.161.  Responsibilities of law enforcement officials.

   (a)   Law enforcement officials, in cooperation with the district attorney, shall

accept the report of suspected student abuse for investigation and determine what

criminal charges, if any, will be filed against the school employe.

   (b)   Law  enforcement  officials  shall  notify  the  county  agency  in  the  county

where  the  alleged  student  abuse  occurred  when  law  enforcement  officials  have

reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of their initial review, that there is evi-

dence of suspected student abuse.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

                                            3490-66

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Ch.  3490                     PROTECTIVE SERVICES                        55 § 3490.171

                          COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES

§   3490.171.     Receipt    and   investigation   of  reports   of  suspected    student

                  abuse.

   (a)   The  county  agency  is  the  sole  civil  agency  responsible  for  investigating

reports  of  suspected  student  abuse.  The  investigation  shall  be  conducted  by  a

protective service worker.

   (b)   When  a  county  agency  receives  a  report  of  suspected  student  abuse,  it

shall  immediately  notify  ChildLine  of  the  receipt  of  the  report  and  begin  an

investigation  as  soon  as  possible.  The  oral  report  shall  include  the  following

information:

     (1)   The name and address of the student and the student’s parent or guard-

   ian.

     (2)   Where the suspected abuse or injury occurred.

     (3)   The age and sex of the student.

     (4)   The nature and extent of the suspected abuse or injury.

     (5)   The  name  and  home  address  of  the  school  employe  alleged  to  have

   committed the abuse or injury.

     (6)   The relationship of the student to the school employe alleged to have

   committed the abuse or injury.

     (7)   The source of the report to the county agency.

     (8)   The actions taken by the county agency, law enforcement officials, par-

   ents, guardians, school officials or other persons, including the taking of pho-

   tographs, medical tests and X-rays.

   (c)   At a minimum, the county agency shall have a face-to-face interview with

the child, any witnesses to the abuse and the school employe suspected of caus-

ing the abuse, unless the employe refuses to be interviewed.

   (d)   The county agency’s investigation shall be completed within 60-calendar

days  of  when  the  report  was  received  by  ChildLine.  The  county  agency  shall

submit a Child Protective Service Investigation Report form to ChildLine with a

status determination of founded, indicated, unfounded or pending criminal court

action. If the Child Protective Service Investigation Report form is not received

within  60-calendar  days  from  the  date  the  report  was  received  by  the  county

agency, the report shall be considered unfounded. Prior to expunging the report,

ChildLine shall verify with the county agency that the report was not completed

within 60-calendar days.

   (e)   If the investigation cannot be completed within 60- calendar days because

an  arrest  has  been  made  or  there  is  criminal  court  action  pending,  the  county

agency shall send the Child Protective Services Investigation Report with a status

determination of one of the following:

     (1)   Pending criminal court action.

     (2)   Indicated, when there is substantial evidence that the child was abused.

                                         3490-67

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55 § 3490.172            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

   (f)   The  county  agency  shall  submit  a  new  Child  Protective  Service  Investi-

gation Report form to ChildLine as required in subsection (e) when a final status

determination is made.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.172.  Coordination of an investigation.

   (a)   The  county  agency  and  law  enforcement  officials  shall  coordinate  their

investigations to the fullest extent possible. Interviews with the student shall be

conducted jointly. However, law enforcement officials may interview the school

employe prior to the county agency contacting the employe.

   (b)   The  joint  interview  with  the  student  may  be  waived  on  an  individual

case-by-case basis if both the county agency and law enforcement official agree

that it is in the best interest of the student.

   (c)   The  county  agency  and  law  enforcement  officials  shall  keep  each  other

informed of their respective investigations.

   (d)   The  county  agency  and  law  enforcement  officials  shall  avoid  taking  or

arranging to have taken duplicate photographs, medical tests or X-rays of a stu-

dent, whenever possible.

   (e)   The county agency may rely on a factual investigation of substantially the

same  allegation  by  a  law  enforcement  official  to  support  the  agency’s  finding.

This reliance does not relieve the county agency from conducting its own inves-

tigation.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.173.  Notifications by the county agency.

   (a)   Prior to the initial interview with a subject of a report of student abuse,

the county agency shall verbally notify the subject of the existence of the report,

the allegations of student abuse and the school employe’s rights regarding amend-

ment and expunction.

   (b)   Within 72 hours of the initial interview, the county agency shall notify the

subject in writing of the following:

     (1)    The existence of the report.

     (2)    The allegations of student abuse.

     (3)    The school employe’s rights regarding amendment and expunction.

     (4)    The right to obtain a copy of the report from ChildLine or the county

   agency.

     (5)    The fact that unfounded reports are expunged within 120-calendar days

   of receipt of the report by ChildLine.

                                            3490-68

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.174

     (6)    The effect that a founded or indicated report of child abuse or student

   abuse has on a school employe responsible for student abuse seeking employ-

   ment in a child care service or as a school employe.

   (c)   The written notice required by subsection (b) may be reasonably delayed

if notification is likely to:

     (1)    Threaten  the  safety  of  the  victim,  the  safety  of  another  subject  or  the

   safety of an investigating county agency worker.

     (2)    Cause the school employe to abscond or to significantly interfere with

   the conduct of a criminal investigation.

   (d)   The written notice shall be given to all subjects before the status determi-

nation is submitted to ChildLine.

   (e)   The  county  agency  shall  notify,  in  writing,  the  district  attorney  and  the

law enforcement officials who conducted the investigation and the school admin-

istrator or employe, or both, who made the report to the district attorney and law

enforcement officials of the status of the report when the county agency notifies

ChildLine of the status of the report.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.174.  Services for students.

   The county agency shall assist the student who was abused and the student’s

parents in locating services for the student, if necessary.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.175.  Expunction  and  amendment  of  reports  of  student  abuse  by

                   the county agency.

   The  county  agency  shall  amend  a  record  of  student  abuse  upon  notification

from ChildLine. The county agency shall expunge all information in its posses-

sion in unfounded, indicated and founded reports of student abuse upon notifica-

tion from ChildLine.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

                      DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

§  3490.181.  Agents of the county agency.

   The regional staff of the Department shall investigate reports of suspected stu-

dent abuse when the person alleged to have abused the student is an agent of the

county agency.

                                            3490-69

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55 § 3490.182            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.182.  ChildLine files.

   ChildLine will establish three files for reports of student abuse as follows:

     (1)    The pending complaint file for reports under investigation which shall

   contain the following information:

        (i)     The  name  and  address  of  the  student  and  the  student’s  parents  or

     guardians.

        (ii)    Where the suspected abuse or injury occurred.

        (iii)   The age and sex of the student.

        (iv)    The nature and extent of the suspected student abuse or injury.

        (v)     The name and home address of the school employe alleged to have

     committed the abuse or injury.

        (vi)    The  relationship  of  the  school  employe  alleged  to  have  committed

     the abuse to the student who was allegedly abused by the school employe.

        (vii)   The source of the report (the name of the law enforcement official)

     to the county agency.

        (viii)  The actions taken by the county agency, law enforcement officials,

     parents, guardians, school officials or other persons, including the taking of

     photographs, medical tests and X-rays.

     (2)    The  Statewide  Central  Register  of  indicated  and  founded  reports  for

   school employes which shall contain the following information:

        (i)     The  name,  Social  Security  Number,  date  of  birth  and  sex  of  the

     subjects of the report.

        (ii)    The home address of the subjects of the report.

        (iii)   The date and the nature and extent of the abuse.

        (iv)    The county in which the student abuse occurred.

        (v)     The factors contributing to the abuse.

        (vi)    The  relationship  of  the  school  employe  who  abused  the  student  to

     the student.

        (vii)   The source of the report the name of the school administrator/school

     employe who made the report to a law enforcement official and the district

     attorney.

        (viii)  Whether the report is a founded or indicated report.

        (ix)    Information    obtained    by   the  Department     in  relation   to a  school

     employe’s request to release, amend or expunge information retained by the

     Department or the county agency.

        (x)     The   progress    of  any   administrative      or  civil  legal  proceedings

     brought on the basis of the report.

        (xi)    Whether  a  criminal  investigation  was  done  and  the  result  of  the

     investigation and of any criminal prosecution.

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.191

     (3)    The file of unfounded reports awaiting expunction which contains the

   same information that is in the Statewide Central Register.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

             GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT ABUSE

§  3490.191.  Request from a school employe to amend or expunge an indi-

                   cated report of student abuse.

   (a)   The  school  employe  responsible  for  the  student  abuse  may  request  the

Secretary to amend or expunge an indicated report for a school employe on the

grounds  that  it  is  inaccurate  or  it  is  being  maintained  in  a  manner  inconsistent

with  this  chapter.  The  written  request  shall  be  postmarked  within  45-calendar

days of the mailing date of the letter from the Statewide Central Register notify-

ing the employe of the indicated status.

   (b)   The Secretary will decide whether to grant or deny a request made under

subsection (a) within 30-calendar days from the date the request is received. The

Secretary will notify all subjects of the report and the appropriate county agency

of the decision by first-class mail.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.192.  Request  for  a  hearing  from  a  school  employe  for  indicated

                   reports of student abuse.

   (a)   The  school  employe  responsible  for  the  student  abuse  has  the  right  to

appeal the Secretary’s decision to deny the request to amend or expunge an indi-

cated report by filing an appeal with the Secretary.

   (b)   Any  other  subject  of  a  report  and  the  county  agency  have  the  right  to

appeal the Secretary’s decision to grant the request.

   (c)   Appeals  shall  be  in  writing  to  the  Secretary’s  designee,  the  Bureau  of

Hearings    and  Appeals,     and   be  postmarked     within   45-calendar     days   from   the

mailing date of the Secretary’s notification letter.

   (d)   If  an  appeal  is  filed,  a  hearing  shall  be  held  before  the  Department’s

Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.

   (e)   Except as provided in subsection (f), hearings will be conducted under 2

Pa.C.S. §§  501—508 and 701—704 (relating to the Administrative Agency Law)

and 1 Pa. Code Part II (relating to General Rules of Administrative Practice and

Procedure).

   (f)   Hearings will be scheduled and final administrative action taken in accor-

dance with the time limits specified in §          275.4(b) and (e)(1), (3) and (5) (relat-

ing to procedures).

                                            3490-71

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55 § 3490.193            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

   (g)   The burden of proof in hearings held under this section is on the appro-

priate county agency.

   (h)   Parties  to  a  hearing  held  under  this  section  have  15-calendar  days  from

the date of the final order of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals to request the

Secretary to reconsider the decision or 30-calendar days to appeal the final order

to the Commonwealth Court.

   (i)   Any administrative appeal proceeding will be automatically stayed upon

notice  to  the  Department  by  any  subject  or  the  county  agency  that  there  is  a

pending  criminal  proceeding  or  a  dependency  or  delinquency  proceeding  under

the Juvenile Act, including an appeal thereof, involving the same factual circum-

stances.

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

§  3490.193.  Other provisions.

   The following sections apply to reports of student abuse to the extent that they

are applicable:

      (1)   Section 3490.31 (relating to receipt of reports).

      (2)   Section 3490.35 (relating to Statewide Central Register).

      (3)    Section   3490.36     (relating   to  providing     information     to  the   county

   agency).

      (4)   Section 3490.37 (relating to release of information: Statewide Central

   Register, pending complaint file and file of unfounded reports).

      (5)   Section 3490.38 (relating to authorized studies of child abuse data).

      (6)   Section  3490.40  (relating  to  notifications  regarding  indicated  reports).

      (7)   Section 3490.40a (relating to notifications regarding founded reports).

      (8)   Section 3490.41 (relating to determination of time).

      (9)   Section 3490.42 (relating to performance audit and reviews).

      (10)  Section 3490.54 (relating to independent investigation of reports).

      (11)  Section 3490.91 (relating to persons to whom child abuse information

   shall be made available).

      (12)  Section 3490.93 (relating to requests by designated county officials).

      (13)  Section 3490.94 (relating to the release of the identity of a person who

   made a report of child abuse or cooperated in a subsequent investigation).

      (14)  Section  3490.104  (relating  to  release  of  information  to  a  subject  of  a

   report).

                                         Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.143 (relating to definitions).

                                            3490-72

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.201

              Subchapter C.      GENERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES

                                      INTRODUCTION

Sec.

  3490.201.              [Reserved].

  3490.202.              [Reserved].

3490.203—3490.210.       [Reserved].

  3490.221.              Applicability.

  3490.222.              Purposes.

  3490.223.              Definitions.

                             COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES

  3490.231.      Functions of the county agency for general protective services.

  3490.232.      Receiving reports and assessing the need for services.

  3490.233.      Protective custody.

  3490.234.      Notifications.

  3490.235.      Services available through the county agency for children in need of gen-

                 eral protective services.

  3490.236.      General protective services records.

         GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERAL PROTECTIVE

                                         SERVICES

  3490.241.      Appeals with respect to general protective services.

  3490.242.      Confidentiality.

                                        Cross References

   This subchapter cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.321 (relating to standards for risk assessment).

                                     INTRODUCTION

§  3490.201.  [Reserved].

                                             Source

   The  provisions  of  this  §  3490.201  adopted  July  28,  1989,  effective  immediately,  19  Pa.B.  3177;

reserved July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding text appears at

serial page (211753).

                                           3490-73

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55 § 3490.202            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

§  3490.202.  [Reserved].

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.202 adopted July 28, 1989, effective immediately and applies retro-

actively to July 1, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 3177; reserved July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (211753).

§  3490.203—3490.210.  [Reserved].

                                              Source

   The provisions of these §§  3490.203—3490.210 adopted July 28, 1989, effective immediately, 19

Pa.B. 3177; reserved July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. Immediately preceding text

appears at serial pages (211753) to (211754).

                                      INTRODUCTION

§  3490.221.  Applicability.

   This subchapter applies to the Department and county children and youth social

service agencies.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.221 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.222.  Purposes.

   The purposes of this subchapter are to:

      (1)   Protect the safety, rights  and  welfare  of  children so that  they  have  an

   opportunity for healthy growth and development.

      (2)   Assist parents in recognizing and remedying conditions harmful to their

   children  and  in  fulfilling  their  parental  duties  in  a  manner  that  does  not  put

   their children at risk.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.222 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.223.  Definitions.

   In addition to the definitions in §        3490.4 (relating to definitions), the follow-

ing words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings,

unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

     Assessment—An  evaluation  by  the  county  agency  to  determine  whether  or

   not a child is in need of general protective services.

      Custodial parent—The parent responsible for the day-to-day care and super-

   vision of the child.

      General protective services—Services to prevent the potential for harm to a

   child who meets one of the following conditions:

                                            3490-74

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                          55 § 3490.231

        (i)     Is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as

     required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental,

     or emotional health, or morals.

        (ii)    Has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law.

        (iii)   Has been abandoned by his parents, guardian or other custodian.

        (iv)    Is without a parent, guardian or legal custodian.

        (v)     Is habitually and without justification truant from school while sub-

     ject to compulsory school attendance.

        (vi)    Has committed a specific act of habitual disobedience of the reason-

     able  and  lawful  commands  of  his  parent,  guardian  or  other  custodian  and

     who is ungovernable and found to be in need of care, treatment or supervi-

     sion.

        (vii)   Is under 10 years of age and has committed a delinquent act.

        (viii)  Has been formerly adjudicated dependent under section 6341 of the

     Juvenile Act  (relating  to  adjudication),  and  is  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the

     court, subject to its conditions or placements and who commits an act which

     is defined as ungovernable in subparagraph (vi).

        (ix)    Has been referred under section 6323 of the Juvenile Act (relating

     to informal adjustment), and who commits an act which is defined as ungov-

     ernable in subparagraph (vi).

     Parent—A biological parent, adoptive parent, legal guardian or primary per-

   son responsible for a child.

     Potential for harm—

        (i)     Likely, if permitted to continue, to have a detrimental effect on the

     child’s health, development or functioning.

        (ii)    The term does not include imminent risk as defined in the definition

     of ‘‘child abuse’’ in §    3490.4.

     Primary  person  who  is  responsible  for  the  care  of  a  child—A person  who

   provides or arranges ongoing care and supervision to a child in lieu of parental

   care and supervision.

     Report—A verbal  or  written  statement  to  the  county  agency  from  someone

   alleging that a child is in need of general protective services.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.223 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                            COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES

§  3490.231.  Functions          of the   county    agency    for  general    protective   ser-

                   vices.

   Each county agency is responsible for administering a program of general pro-

tective services to children that is consistent with the agency’s objectives to:

     (1)    Keep children safely in their own homes, whenever possible.

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55 § 3490.232            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

     (2)    Prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.

     (3)    Overcome problems that could result in dependency.

     (4)    Provide temporary, substitute placement in the home of a relative, other

   individual who has a significant relationship with the child or the child’s fam-

   ily, a foster family home or residential child-care facility for children in need

   of this care.

     (5)    Reunite  children  safely  with  their  families,  whenever  possible,  when

   children are in temporary, substitute placement.

     (6)    Provide a permanent, legally assured family for children in temporary,

   substitute care who cannot be returned to their own home.

     (7)    Provide services and care ordered by the court for children who have

   been adjudicated dependent.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.231 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.232.  Receiving reports and assessing the need for services.

   (a)   The county agency shall be the sole civil agency responsible for receiv-

ing  and   assessing    all reports   alleging   a need   for  general    protective   services.

Nothing in this subchapter limits section 6304 or 6334 of the Juvenile Act (relat-

ing to powers and duties of probation officers; and petition).

   (b)   The  county  agency  shall  provide  24-hours-per-day/7-day-per-week  tele-

phone access to receive reports alleging a need for general protective services.

   (c)   The county agency shall see the child immediately if emergency protec-

tive  custody  has  been  taken,  is  needed,  or  if  it  cannot  be  determined  from  the

report  whether  or  not  emergency  protective  custody  is  needed.  Otherwise,  the

county agency shall prioritize the response time for an assessment to assure that

children who are most at risk receive an assessment first.

   (d)   The county agency shall use a State-approved risk assessment process for

general  protective  services  as  required  by  §     3490.321  (relating  to  standards  for

risk assessment) to:

     (1)    Aid in its assessment of whether to accept the family for services.

     (2)    Insure that its assessment is comprehensive.

     (3)    Help determine the need for general protective services.

     (4)    Assist in the development of the family service plan.

   (e)   The county agency shall complete an assessment within 60-calendar days

to determine whether or not the child and family should be accepted for general

protective services, be referred to another agency for services or close the case.

   (f)   The county agency shall see the child and visit the child’s home during

the assessment period. The home visits shall occur as often as necessary to com-

plete the assessment and insure the safety of the child. There shall be a least one

home visit.

                                           3490-76

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Ch.  3490                        PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.233

   (g)   The  county  agency  shall  interview  the  child,  if  age  appropriate,  and  the

parents  or  the  primary  person  who  is  responsible  for  the  care  of  the  child. The

county agency shall also conduct interviews with those persons who are known

to have or may reasonably be expected to have information that would be helpful

to the county agency in determining whether or not the child is in need of gen-

eral protective services.

   (h)   The county agency may make unannounced home visits.

   (i)   The county agency shall provide or arrange appropriate services to assure

the safety of the child during the assessment period.

   (j)   The  county  agency  shall  initiate  the  appropriate  court  proceedings  and

assist  the  court  during  all  stages  of  the  court  proceedings  if  the  county  agency

determines that general protective services are in the best interest of a child and

if an offer of an assessment, a home visit or services is refused by the parent.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.232 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.233.  Protective custody.

   (a)   A child alleged to be in need of general protective services may be taken

into protective custody under §§  3490.15—3490.17 and 3490.57.

   (b)   The director of a hospital or other medical facility or a person specifically

designated in writing by the director, or a physician examining or treating a child

may take a child into protective custody if it is immediately necessary to protect

the child.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.233 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.234.  Notifications.

   (a)   The  county  agency  shall  notify  the  parent  of  the  receipt  of  the  report

alleging the need for general protective services and that the county agency will

do an assessment to determine the need for general protective services. The noti-

fication shall be made verbally at the time of the initial interview.

   (b)   The county agency shall provide written notice to the parents and the pri-

mary person who is responsible for the care of the child of the county agency’s

decision to accept or not accept the family for general protective services within

7-calendar days of making the decision. If the county agency accepts the family

for services, it shall include the following information in the notice:

     (1)    The reasons why the county agency accepted the family for services.

     (2)    The right of the custodial parent or the primary person responsible for

   the care of the child to appeal the county agency’s decision that the child is in

   need of general protective services.

                                            3490-77

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55 § 3490.235            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                       Pt.  V

      (3)   The request for an appeal shall be received by the county agency within

   45-calendar days of the mailing date of the written notice in subsection (b).

      (4)   How to appeal the county agency’s decision that the child is in need of

   general protective services.

      (5)   The  written  appeal  request  shall  specify  the  reasons  why  the  child  is

   not in need of general protective services.

                                              Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.234 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.235.  Services available through the county agency for children in

                    need of general protective services.

   (a)   The county agency shall provide, arrange or otherwise make available the

same  services  for  children  in  need  of  general  protective  services  as  for  abused

children    under   §  3490.60     (relating  to  services    available   through    the  county

agency).

   (b)   The  county  agency  shall  develop  a  family  service  plan  as  required  by

§  3130.61 (relating to family service plans) for each family accepted for general

protective services.

   (c)   The  county  agency  shall  monitor  the  provision  of  services  and  evaluate

the  effectiveness  of  the  services  provided  under  the  family  service  plan  under

§  3130.63 (relating to review of family service plans). The county agency worker

shall  visit  the  family    in  performing     the  case   management       responsibilities   as

required by §  3130.63 as often as necessary for management of the service pro-

vision at least every 180-calendar days.

   (d)   The county agency may purchase and use the services of any appropriate

public  or  private  agency  under  Chapter  3130  (relating  to  the  administration  of

county children and youth social service programs).

   (e)   The county agency supervisor shall review each report alleging a need for

general  protective  services  which  is  being  assessed  on  a  regular  and  ongoing

basis  to  assure  that  the  level  of  services  are  consistent  with  the  level  of  risk  to

the  child,  to  determine  the  safety  of  the  child  and  the  progress  made  toward

reaching a determination on the need for protective services. The supervisor shall

maintain  a  log  of  these  reviews  which  at  a  minimum  shall  include  an  entry  at

10-calendar day intervals during the assessment period.

   (f)   When a case has been accepted for service and a family service plan has

been developed under Chapter 3130, the county agency supervisor shall, within

10-calendar days of the completion of the family service plan, review the plan to

assure  that  the  level  of  activity,  in  person  contacts  with  the  child,  oversight,

supervision and services for the child and family which are contained in the plan,

are consistent with the level of risk determined by the county agency for the case.

Documentation of this review shall be in the case record.

                                            3490-78

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                           55 § 3490.236

   (g)   When  a  case  has  been  accepted  for  services,  the  county  agency  shall

monitor the safety of the child and assure that contacts are made with the child,

parents and service providers. The contacts may occur either directly by a county

agency worker or through purchase of service, by phone or in person but face-to-

face contacts with the parent and the child shall occur as often as necessary for

the protection of the child but at least as often as:

     (1)    Once a week until the case is no longer designated as high risk by the

   county agency, if the child remains in or returns to the home in which the need

   for  general   protective   services   was   established    and   the  county   agency    has

   determined a high level of risk exists for the case.

     (2)    Once a month for 6 months or case closure when the child is either:

        (i)     Placed out of the home or setting in which the need for general pro-

     tective services was established.

        (ii)    No longer determined to be at a high risk by the county agency.

   (h)   A periodic assessment of the risk of harm to the child shall be conducted

as required by the State-approved risk assessment process.

   (i)   Except  when  ordered  by  the  court  in  a  proceeding  brought  under  the

Juvenile Act, a county agency is not required to duplicate services which are the

statutory responsibility of any other agency.

   (j)   The county agency shall aid the child and the family in obtaining benefits

and services for which they may qualify under Federal, State and local programs.

   (k)   The family service plan shall contain a provision that requires the parents

advise the county agency, within 24 hours, when the child or family move from

one residence to another.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.235 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.236.  General protective services records.

   (a)   Records for reports that are accepted for general protective services shall

be  maintained  under  §  3130.43  (relating  to  family  case  records).  In  addition  to

the  information  required  by  §  3130.43,  the  records  shall  contain  the  following

information:

     (1)    The nature of each report for general protective services.

     (2)    The date and source of the report.

     (3)    The names and addresses of the persons interviewed in conducting the

   assessment of each report.

     (4)    The services provided by the county agency during the assessment of

   the report.

     (5)    How the level of services provided are consistent with the level of risk

   to the child.

                                           3490-79

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55 § 3490.241           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

   (b)   Records for reports that are not accepted for service shall be maintained

for 5 years following the receipt of the latest report alleging the need for general

protective services. The following information shall be maintained:

     (1)    The name and address of the children.

     (2)    The names and addresses of the parents.

     (3)    The names and addresses of the primary persons who are responsible

   for the care of the child.

     (4)    The allegations of the need for general protective services.

     (5)    The date and source of the report.

     (6)    The names and addresses of the persons interviewed in conducting the

   assessment.

     (7)    The services provided by the county agency during the assessment.

     (8)    Referral to other community agencies.

     (9)    A summary of the assessment and reasons for not accepting the family

   for general protective services.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.236 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

                 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERAL

                               PROTECTIVE SERVICES

§  3490.241.  Appeals with respect to general protective services.

   (a)   When a county agency accepts a case for services, the custodial parents

or the primary persons who are responsible for the care of the child may appeal

that decision.

   (b)   The  county  agency  shall  establish  policies  and  procedures  for  handling

these  appeals.  The  policies  and  procedures  shall  be  in  the  agency’s  manual  as

required by §  3130.21 (relating to responsibilities of county executive officers).

   (c)   An   appeal   from   the  custodial   parent   or  the  primary    persons   who   are

responsible for the care of the child shall be received by the county agency within

45-calendar  days  of  the  date  of  the  letter  from  the  county  agency  notifying  the

person of the agency’s decision to accept the child and family for services. The

written  appeal  request  shall  be  made  to  the  county  agency  administrator  and

specify the reasons why the child is not in need of general protective services.

   (d)   The county agency shall review the request and issue a written decision

to the person who made the request within 45-calendar days of the receipt of the

appeal. If the agency denies the request, the person who made the request shall

be advised in writing of his right to a hearing before the Department’s Bureau of

Hearings and Appeals and that the request shall be made within 45-calendar days

of the date of the letter from the county agency notifying the person of the agen-

cy’s decision denying the request.

                                           3490-80

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                          55 § 3490.242

   (e)   If a hearing is requested, the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals will sched-

ule  a  hearing  under Article  IV  of  the  Public  Welfare  Code  (62  P. S.  §§  401—

493), and applicable Department regulations. The burden of proof in the hearing

shall be on the county agency. The Department will assist the county agency as

necessary.

   (f)   The  Department  is  authorized  and  empowered  to  make  any  appropriate

order regarding records to make them accurate or consistent with this chapter.

   (g)   Neither the county administrator nor the director of the Bureau of Hear-

ings and Appeals may issue a ruling modifying the term of a service plan which

has been specifically approved or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

   (h)   Action by the custodial parent or the primary person who is responsible

for the care of the child under this section does not preclude the custodial parent

or  the  primary  person  who  is  responsible  for  the  care  of  the  child  the  right  to

exercise other appeals available through Department regulations or the courts.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.241 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

§  3490.242.  Confidentiality.

   Information obtained by the county agency or Department in connection with

general protective services may only be released as follows:

     (1)    Under §  3130.44 (relating to confidentiality of family case records).

     (2)    To another county agency.

     (3)    To an official of an agency of another state that performs general pro-

   tective  services  analogous  to  those  services  performed  by  county  agencies  or

   the Department in the course of the official’s duties.

                                             Source

   The provisions of this § 3490.242 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.

          Subchapter D.       GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD

  PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND GENERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES

                                      INTRODUCTION

Sec.

3490.301.  Applicability.

3490.302.  Purpose.

3490.303.  Definitions.

                                           3490-81

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55                     CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                  Pt. V

          STAFF ORIENTATION, TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

                                  REQUIREMENTS

3490.311.  Establishment of a staff development process.

3490.312.  Training program requirements for direct service workers.

3490.313.  Direct service worker certification requirements for supervisors who supervise

           direct service workers.

3490.314.  Training  and  certification  requirements  for  supervisors  who  supervise  direct

           service workers.

                                  RISK ASSESSMENT

3490.321.  Standards for risk assessment.

3490.322.  County agency compliance with risk assessment standards.

                                   ANNUAL REPORT

3490.331.  Annual report on required activities.

                                     STAFF RATIOS

3490.341.  Staff-to-family ratios.

                             FAILURE TO COOPERATE

3490.351.  Willful failure to cooperate.

                              STANDARDS FOR STAFF

3490.361.  Requirements for agencies providing protective services.

3490.362.  Licensure requirements for persons providing services arranged or provided by

           the county agency.

                    ATTORNEY FOR THE COUNTY AGENCY

3490.371.  Availability of an attorney for the county agency.

                                        3490-82

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Ch.  3490                      PROTECTIVE SERVICES                        55 § 3490.301

                         LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS

3490.381.  Law enforcement assistance.

                                     ANNUAL PLAN

3490.391.  County agency plan.

                                TRANSFER OF CASES

3490.401.  Intercounty transfer of cases.

                                           Source

   The provisions of this Subchapter D adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513,

unless otherwise noted.

                                   INTRODUCTION

§  3490.301.  Applicability.

   This subchapter applies to county agencies and other agencies and persons who

provide services to abused and neglected children.

§  3490.302.  Purpose.

   The purpose of this subchapter is to consolidate regulations that apply to both

child protective services and general protective services.

§  3490.303.  Definitions.

   In addition to the definitions in §  3490.4 (relating to definitions), the follow-

ing words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings,

unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

     CORE—Training  in  foundation  level  skills  which  are  needed  by  all  direct

   service workers in county agencies to provide services to abused and neglected

   children and their families.

     Risk assessment—A Department-approved systematic process that assesses a

   child’s need for protection or services based on the risk of harm to the child.

     Training    program—The       Pennsylvania    Child   Welfare    Competency-Based

   Training and Certification Program.

                                         3490-83

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55 § 3490.311           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                   Pt.  V

         STAFF ORIENTATION, TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

                                   REQUIREMENTS

§  3490.311.  Establishment of a staff development process.

   (a)   In fulfillment of the requirements of section 6383 of the CPSL (relating

to education and training), the Department will implement an initial and ongoing

training  program  for  direct  service  workers  and  supervisors  in  county  agencies.

   (b)   To implement the training program, the Department will establish a steer-

ing committee cochaired by a representative from the Department and a represen-

tative from the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators, Inc.

   (c)   The steering committee shall provide recommendations to the Department

for  the  establishment  and  implementation  of  policies  and  procedures  relating  to

staff orientation, training and certification as required by the CPSL and this chap-

ter  and  provide    recommendations       for overall   staff  development     designed    to

improve the competency of the direct service workers and supervisors in county

agencies.

   (d)   The  steering  committee  shall  include  among  its  functions  the  evaluation

of program effectiveness tested against measurable outcomes.

§  3490.312.  Training program requirements for direct service workers.

   (a)   The county agency shall establish and implement policies for orientation

of direct service workers.

   (b)   The county agency shall establish and implement written policies on the

assignment  of  cases  to  new  staff  and  staff  reassigned  as  direct  service  workers,

including  the  criteria  used  to  determine  when  a  worker  is  prepared  to  assume

responsibility for a full caseload.

   (c)   The county agency shall implement the supervisors’ orientation, training

and resource manual. A county agency may implement its own process or manual

provided it addresses the objectives of the manual provided through the training

program and is approved by the Department.

   (d)   The   Department,     with  consultation    from   its steering   committee,    will

establish standards, a process and a program for county agencies relating to the

initial and ongoing certification of direct service workers including the following

requirements:

     (1)    Direct service workers include the persons providing direct services to

   children  and  families  and  case  management  functions  on  a  full-time  or  part-

   time basis.

     (2)    Direct service workers hired on or after July 1, 1996, shall be certified

   under the established standards within 18 months of their date of employment.

     (3)    Direct service workers who are not in a permanent employment status

   as of July 1, 1996, shall be certified by December 31, 1997.

     (4)    Permanent direct service workers hired prior to July 1, 1996, are certi-

   fied.

                                          3490-84

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Ch.  3490                       PROTECTIVE SERVICES                          55 § 3490.312

     (5)    Direct  service  workers  hired  after  June  30,  1996,  who  are  in  the  pro-

   cess  of  achieving  initial  certification  may  be  assigned  a  caseload,  up  to  the

   caseworker-to-family ratio of the county agency, based on the worker’s ability

   to handle job duties as determined by the written policy of the county agency.

     (6)    Initial certification of direct service workers shall include the following

   components:

        (i)     A minimum of 120 hours of CORE training.

          (A)    The content of CORE training shall be determined by the Depart-

        ment in consultation with the steering committee.

          (B)    The content of CORE training shall be subject to periodic review

        by the Department and the steering committee for continued relevancy.

          (C)    An   overview     of  CORE     training  shall  be  communicated       by  the

        Department  to  the  county  agencies  and  direct  service  workers  through  a

        Departmental bulletin.

          (D)    Upon request by a county agency and approval by the Department,

        a county agency may provide the CORE training developed by the train-

        ing program to its direct service workers.

          (E)    The county agency shall maintain a record of CORE training com-

        pleted for certification in the employe’s personnel file.

        (ii)    A decision by the employing county agency that the worker is cer-

     tified.

          (A)    The decision shall be based on an assessment of the worker’s abil-

        ity  to  apply  the  principles,  concepts  and  content  of  CORE  training,  the

        supervisors’ orientation, training and resource manual or its equivalent and

        other learning opportunities to on-the-job situations. The assessment shall

        conclude with a decision of whether or not the worker is certified.

          (B)    The assessment shall be in writing and reviewed with the employe.

        The  employe  shall  be     given  a   copy   of  the  assessment.  A  copy  of     the

        assessment shall be maintained in the employe’s personnel file.

     (7)    The  county  agency  shall  determine  the  county  agency’s  training  year.

     (8)    Ongoing  certification  of  direct  service  workers,  shall  include  the  fol-

   lowing:

        (i)     Documentation of completion of a minimum of 20 hours of training

     annually. For direct service workers who complete the CORE training during

     the county agency’s training year, the county agency shall prorate the num-

     ber  of  required  training  hours  that  a  direct  service  worker  shall  take  in  the

     county agency’s training year schedule.

          (A)    Training content shall be based on the annual administration of an

        assessment  of  individual  training  needs  and  the  development  of  an  indi-

        vidual training plan.

          (B)    Ongoing training, as identified in the individual training plan, may

        be obtained through the training program, provided by a county agency or

        obtained through another provider.

                                           3490-85

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55 § 3490.313           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

        (ii)    Courses  from  an  accredited  school  of  social  work  which  are  suc-

     cessfully completed by a direct service worker shall be acceptable in meet-

     ing the ongoing certification requirements.

        (iii)   The county agency shall maintain a record of training required for

     ongoing    certification,   including    the  needs   assessment,    training   plan   and

     courses attended in the employe’s personnel file.

        (iv)    The date of initial certification for grandfathered workers is June 30,

      1996.

     (9)    The county agency shall provide its direct service workers the oppor-

   tunity to obtain initial and ongoing certification status.

     (10)   The county agency may not allow an employe who fails to achieve or

   maintain certified status to perform direct service duties.

§  3490.313.  Direct  service  worker certification  requirements  for supervi-

                   sors who supervise direct service workers.

   (a)   Supervisors  who  supervise  direct  service  workers  shall  be  certified  as  a

direct service worker.

     (1)    Supervisors with permanent status on June 30, 1996, and who supervise

   direct service workers are grandfathered as certified direct service workers.

     (2)    Supervisors hired, transferred or promoted after June 30, 1996, who are

   not certified, shall meet the certification requirements in the training program

   requirements  for  direct  service  workers  within  12  months  of  employment  or

   transfer.

   (b)   Supervisors  who  supervise  direct  service  workers  who  fail  to  meet  the

requirement  of  subsection  (a)  may  not  be  permitted  by  the  county  agency  to

supervise direct service workers.

§  3490.314.  Training  and  certification  requirements  for  supervisors  who

                   supervise direct service workers.

   Persons  employed,  hired,  transferred  or  promoted  to  supervise  direct  service

workers on or after October 1, 1998, shall complete a supervisor’s training pro-

gram approved by the Department in consultation with the steering committee.

                                  RISK ASSESSMENT

§  3490.321.  Standards for risk assessment.

   (a)   The standards established for risk assessment shall include the following:

     (1)    A statement of purpose for the process.

     (2)    The core set of factors against which risk shall be assessed.

     (3)    The application of the process, including the points at which the pro-

   cess shall be applied and the periodicity of application.

     (4)    The recordkeeping requirements.

     (5)    The process for State approval.

                                           3490-86

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Ch.  3490                      PROTECTIVE SERVICES                         55 § 3490.321

   (b)   The Department and counties will review the implementation of the risk

assessment process on an ongoing basis to ensure that the standards established

are consistent with good practice and the results of research.

   (c)   The  county  agency  shall  implement  the  State-approved  risk  assessment

model  developed  by  the  Department  in  consultation  with  the  Risk Assessment

Task Force.

   (d)   The county agency shall apply the State-approved risk assessment process

established under this section in performing the duties under Subchapters A and

C (relating to child protective services; and general protective services).

   (e)   The factors which shall be assessed by the county agency include the fol-

lowing:

     (1)    The   characteristics   of  the  environment     in  which    the  child  abuse

   occurred including the history of prior abuse and neglect.

     (2)    The characteristics of the parent, caregiver, household member, primary

   person responsible for the welfare of a child and perpetrator including history

   of drug and alcohol abuse.

     (3)    The  characteristics  of  the  family  including  the  history  of  family  vio-

   lence.

   (f)   The county agency shall rate each factor in subsection (e) and shall pro-

vide  documentation  in  the  record  to  support  the  identified  level  of  risk  and  to

assure the child’s safety.

     (1)    Each factor shall be rated using one of the following designations:

        (i)    No risk.

        (ii)   Low risk.

        (iii)  Moderate risk.

        (iv)   High risk.

     (2)    If a county agency is unable to assess the risk of a specific factor listed

   in subsection (e), the county agency shall indicate the reasons in the record.

   (g)   At the time of the report of suspected child abuse or allegations of chil-

dren in need of general protective services, the county agency shall make an ini-

tial determination of the risk to the child.

     (1)    The  county  agency  need  not  complete  the  risk  assessment  process  if

   after  one  contact  with  the  family  the  report  is  determined  to  be  without  any

   merit.

     (2)    The county agency shall document evidence which supports this find-

   ing in the record.

   (h)   Periodic assessments of risk shall be completed by the county agency as

follows:

     (1)    At  the  conclusion  of  the  intake  investigation  which  may  not  exceed

   60-calendar days.

     (2)    Every 6 months in conjunction with the family service plan or judicial

   review unless one of the following applies:

        (i)    The risk to the child remains low or no risk.

                                         3490-87

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55 § 3490.322            CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                     Pt.  V

        (ii)    The child has been placed out of the home for more than 6 months

     and there are no other children in the home.

     (3)    Thirty-calendar days before and after the child is returned to the family

   home unless one of the following applies:

        (i)     The risk to the child remains low or no risk.

        (ii)    The child’s return home was not anticipated by the county agency.

     A risk assessment for these cases shall be completed within 2 weeks of the

     child’s return to the home.

     (4)    Thirty-calendar days prior to case closure.

   (i)   The county agency shall conduct a risk assessment as often as necessary

to assure the child’s safety.

   (j)   The county agency shall assess the safety and risk of the child when the

circumstances change within the child’s environment at times other than required

under this section.

                                        Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.232 (relating to receiving reports and assessing the need

for services).

§  3490.322.  County agency compliance with risk assessment standards.

   (a)   Each  county  agency  shall  implement  a  State-approved  risk  assessment

process in performance of its duties under sections 6362 and 6375 of the CPSL

(relating  to  responsibilities  of  county  agency  for  child  protective  services;  and

county agency requirements for general protective services) and this chapter.

   (b)   Each county agency shall implement the State-approved risk assessment

process approved by the Department on July 1, 1997.

   (c)   The county agency shall implement its risk assessment process in a way

which supports its overall decision making process for, and approach to, protec-

tive services.

   (d)   The  county  agency  in  developing  and  implementing  the  family  service

plan and placement amendment as required by Chapter 3130 (relating to admin-

istration of county children and youth social service programs) shall assure that

the level of activity, in person contacts with the child, oversight, supervision and

services  for  the  child  and  family  are  consistent  with  the  level  of  risk  as  deter-

mined by the county agency.

                                    ANNUAL REPORT

§  3490.331.  Annual report on required activities.

   (a)   The Department will report annually to the Governor and General Assem-

bly  on  the  activities  of  this  chapter,  including  the  operations  of  the  Statewide

Central Register and the protective services provided by the county agencies. The

report shall contain a statistical analysis of the following:

                                           3490-88

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Ch.  3490                     PROTECTIVE SERVICES                        55 § 3490.341

     (1)   The reports of suspected child abuse received by the Department.

     (2)   The reports of suspected student abuse received by the Department.

     (3)   The results of requests for child care clearances received by the Depart-

   ment.

     (4)   The costs to implement the law.

     (5)   An evaluation of services offered in response to the CPSL.

     (6)   The protective service referrals received and accepted by county agen-

   cies.

     (7)   The   children   over  whom     the  county   agencies   maintain   continuing

   supervision.

     (8)   The protective service cases closed by county agencies.

     (9)   The services provided to children and their families.

     (10)  Recommendations for legislative changes and the estimated increase or

   decrease in cost.

   (b)   The  data  required  in  subsection  (a)(6)—(9)  shall  be  submitted  by  the

county agencies through the Children and Youth Quarterly Aggregate Reporting

System on form CY-28 until the Department has implemented the child specific

Adoption  and  Foster  Care  Analysis  and  Reporting  System  which  will  include

information on protective services.

                                    STAFF RATIOS

§  3490.341.  Staff-to-family ratios.

   A county agency shall have sufficient, qualified staff and be organized to per-

form the functions required by the CPSL and this chapter. Staff-to-family ratios

for  protective  service   workers   shall  be  in  accordance    with  §§  3130.32    and

3140.17 (relating to staffing requirements; and review of county plans and bud-

gets).

                            FAILURE TO COOPERATE

§  3490.351.  Willful failure to cooperate.

   An agency, school district or facility, or a person acting on behalf of an agency,

school district or facility, that violates this chapter by willfully failing to cooper-

ate with the Department or a county agency when investigating a report of sus-

pected child abuse, suspected student abuse or suspected neglect commits a sum-

mary  offense  for  a  first  violation  and  a  misdemeanor  of  the  third  degree  for

subsequent violations under section 6346 of the CPSL (relating to cooperation of

other agencies).

                                        3490-89

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55 § 3490.361           CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                  Pt.  V

                              STANDARDS FOR STAFF

§  3490.361.  Requirements for agencies providing protective services.

   The county agency shall arrange for or provide protective services for children

and their families only through agencies that comply with §§             3130.21, 3130.39

and 3130.40 (relating to responsibilities of county executive officers; services and

facilities which may be used; and delivery of services through other service pro-

viders).

                                      Cross References

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3490.362 (relating to licensure requirements for persons pro-

viding services arranged or provided by the county agency).

§   3490.362.      Licensure      requirements      for   persons    providing     services

                  arranged or provided by the county agency.

   The county agency shall arrange for or provide services from persons who are

not  affiliated  with  an  agency  under  §    3490.361  (relating  to  requirements  for

agencies   providing    protective   services)  only   if the  person   possesses    a valid

license issued by the Department of State, if the profession is subject to manda-

tory licensure.

                   ATTORNEY FOR THE COUNTY AGENCY

§  3490.371.  Availability of an attorney for the county agency.

   The  county  agency  shall  retain  or  ensure  the  availability  of  an  attorney  for

consultation with and representation of the county agency in fulfilling its respon-

sibilities under the CPSL and this chapter.

                        LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS

§  3490.381.  Law enforcement assistance.

   A county  agency  staff  member  may  request  a  law  enforcement  officer  to  be

present at any time during the course of fulfilling the county agency staff person’s

responsibilities under the CPSL and this chapter without violating the confiden-

tiality provisions of the CPSL or this chapter when the worker fears for his own

safety or the safety of anyone else involved.

                                    ANNUAL PLAN

§  3490.391.  County agency plan.

   The county agency shall comply with Chapter 3140 (relating to planning and

financial  reimbursement  requirements  for  county  children  and  youth  social  ser-

                                         3490-90

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Ch.  3490                     PROTECTIVE SERVICES                        55 § 3490.401

vice programs) regarding the development and submission of a plan for the pro-

vision of protective services required by the CPSL and this chapter.

                               TRANSFER OF CASES

§  3490.401.  Intercounty transfer of cases.

   (a)   County  agencies  shall  share  that  information  which  will  assist  them  in

protecting children.

   (b)   When a report of suspected child abuse is under investigation, a report is

being  assessed  to  determine  the  need  for  general  protective  services  or  when  a

case  has  been  accepted  for  protective  services  and  the  family  moves  to  another

county, and the address is known, the county agency shall:

     (1)   Immediately telephone the receiving county agency and tell them:

        (i)    The name and address of the child and parents.

        (ii)   The reason for agency involvement.

        (iii)  The status of the case.

        (iv)   The services that were being provided.

        (v)    The level of risk assigned to the case.

        (vi)   Other information that would assist the receiving agency.

     (2)   Within 24 hours of the phone call, send a fax to the receiving agency

   to confirm the referral. The faxed information shall contain:

        (i)    The name and address of the child and parents.

        (ii)   The level of risk assigned to the case.

        (iii)  The status of the case.

   (c)   The  receiving  agency  shall  accept  the  referral  and  determine  what  ser-

vices are necessary to protect the child from abuse or neglect.

   (d)   When the case is a high risk case, the receiving county agency shall reas-

sess the risk of abuse or neglect to the child and see the child within 24 hours of

receiving the telephone referral. The county agency worker shall see the child at

the child’s new address.

   (e)   The receiving agency shall notify the referring agency of the status of the

referral upon completing the investigation or assessment.

   (f)   Regardless   of  whether   or  not  the  address  of  the  child  and  family   is

known, within 72 hours of the telephone referral, the referring agency shall fax

or send by overnight mail to the receiving agency the following:

     (1)   The family demographics.

     (2)   The current family service plan and placement amendment.

     (3)   The current risk assessment matrix and summary.

     (4)   Court petitions and court orders.

     (5)   A social summary, when available.

     (6)   A copy of the CY-48 and other relevant ChildLine forms.

     (7)   Other information that would assist the receiving agency in providing

   services to the child and parents.

                                         3490-91

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55 § 3490.401             CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES                                         Pt.  V

   (g)    When a report of suspected child abuse or neglect is under investigation

or assessment or when a case has been accepted for protective services and the

family moves to another county, and the county where the child has moved to is

known but not the street address, the referring county agency shall telephone the

receiving  county  and  give  it  the  names  and  dates  of  birth  of  the  child  and  par-

ents.

   (h)    The referring and receiving agency shall make reasonable efforts to locate

the family, including as appropriate, based on the age of the child and other cir-

cumstances, by contacting the following:

      (1)    Post office of the last known address.

      (2)    School.

      (3)    Health professionals and health agencies.

      (4)    Domestic relations office.

      (5)    Parent locator services.

      (6)    Law enforcement official.

      (7)    County assistance office.

      (8)    Known relatives.

      (9)    Known neighbors.

   (i)    The referring and receiving county shall document their efforts to locate

the child and family.

   (j)    The receiving county shall notify the referring county:

      (1)    Within 10 days of locating the child and family, when found.

      (2)    When  the  county  has  exhausted  all  reasonable  efforts  to  locate  the

   family.

                                         Notes of Decisions

Record of Proceedings

   Where  a  mother  claimed  that  it  was  an  abuse  of  discretion  not  to  transfer  her  child’s  case  to  the

children and youth services of the county to which the mother moved, the appellate court was unable

to properly review the appeal in the absence of a transcript of the proceedings. Therefore, the matter

was remanded for an evidentiary hearing to construct a record for appellate review. In the Interest of

J.H. , 788 A.2d 1006 (Pa. Super. 2001).

                                        [Next page is 3500-1.]

                                             3490-92

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