SB361 Alabama 2016 Session

Under existing law, certain persons and state and local agencies are required to report any suspected or known child abuse or neglect to a duly constituted authority, such as the chief of police of a municipality, the sheriff of a county, or the local department of human resources, and when the initial report is made to a law enforcement official, the official must inform the Department of Human Resources so that the department can carry out its responsibility to provide protective services when necessary

This bill would require the Department of Human Resources to make efforts to determine the military status of the parent or guardian of the child who is the subject of the child abuse or neglect allegation

This bill would further provide that if the parent or guardian is in the military, the Department of Human Resources would be required to notify a United States Department of Defense family advocacy program at the military installation of the parent or guardian that there is an allegation of child abuse or neglect that is being investigated that involves a child of the military parent or guardian

To amend Section 26-14-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse or neglect; to require the Department of Human Resources to make efforts to determine the military status of the parent or guardian of the child; and to further require the Department of Human Resources to notify a United States Department of Defense family advocacy program at the military installation of the parent or guardian of the allegation of child abuse or neglect.