House passes, rejects changes in child abuse laws

On Wednesday, May 11 the House of Representatives voted on several bills related to the handling of child abuse and neglect cases.

The bills were in response to child abuse fatalities last year.

First, the House passed SB 536, which allows the state to remove a child at risk with just a phone call request to the court.  The state must submit written affidavits the next day.

The House also passed SB 538, which gives police more time to to prepare for court after taking custody of a child in imminent danger.

Lastly, the House passed SB 539, which allows law enforcement to access a child's medical records at the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) for the purpose of child abuse investigations.

The House rejected another bill, SB 537, which would have extended the amount of time DCYF retains records of child abuse investigations. 

Right now DCYF destroys "screened-out" cases - cases they determine do not merit an investigation - after one year.  Investigations that do not result in a finding of maltreatment are destroyed after three years.  Substantiated cases are kept for seven years.

Supporters argued that the current requirement to destroy records impedes the ability of the department to identify patterns of potential maltreatment.

Opponents argued that the requirement to destroy records protects the privacy of citizens, particularly in unfounded cases.

SB 536, SB 538, and SB 539 now head to Gov. Maggie Hassan for her signature.