210.001. 1. The department of social services shall address the needs of homeless, dependent and neglected children in the supervision and custody of the division of family services and to their families-in-conflict by:
(1) Serving children and families as a unit in the least restrictive setting available and in close proximity to the family home, consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child;
(2) Insuring that appropriate social services are provided to the family unit both prior to the removal of the child from the home and after family reunification;
(3) Developing and implementing preventive and early intervention social services which have demonstrated the ability to delay or reduce the need for out-of-home placements and ameliorate problems before they become chronic.
2. The department of social services shall fund only regional child assessment centers known as:
(1) The St. Louis City child assessment center;
(2) The St. Louis County child assessment center;
(3) The Jackson County child assessment center;
(4) The Buchanan County child assessment center;
(5) The Greene County child assessment center;
(6) The Boone County child assessment center;
(7) The Joplin child assessment center;
(8) The St. Charles County child assessment center;
(9) The Jefferson County child assessment center;
(10) The Pettis County child assessment center;
(11) The southeast Missouri child assessment center;
(12) The Camden County child assessment center;
(13) The Clay-Platte County child assessment center;
(14) The Lakes Area child assessment center;
(15) The Ozark Foothills child assessment center; and
(16) The North Central Missouri child assessment center; provided the other approved assessment centers included in subdivisions (1) to (14) of this subsection submit to the department of social services a modified funding formula for all approved child assessment centers, which would require no additional state funding.
(L. 1987 S.B. 244 § 1, A.L. 1999 S.B. 387, et al., A.L. 2000 H.B. 1677 merged with S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2001 S.B. 48, A.L. 2002 S.B. 923, et al., A.L. 2003 H.B. 575)
210.002. 1. The department of social services, the department of health and senior services, the department of mental health, the department of elementary and secondary education, the division of youth services, and the division of family services shall cooperate with the children's service commission to prepare a detailed, comprehensive "Year 2000 Plan" to provide the preventive services described in subsection 2 of this section.
2. The "Year 2000 Plan" shall provide recommendations for the development and implementation of coordinated social and health services which:
(1) Identify early problems experienced by children and their families and the services which are adequate in availability, appropriate to the situation, and effective;
(2) Seek to bring about meaningful change before family situations become irreversibly destructive and before disturbed psychological behavioral patterns and health problems become severe or permanent;
(3) Serve children and families in their own homes thus preventing unnecessary out-of-home placement or institutionalization;
(4) Focus resources on social and health problems as they begin to manifest themselves rather than waiting for chronic and severe patterns of illness, criminality, and dependency to develop which require long-term treatment, maintenance, or custody;
(5) Reduce duplication of and gaps in service delivery;
(6) Improve planning, budgeting, and communication among these state agencies serving children and families; and
(7) Develop outcome standards for measuring the effectiveness of social and health services for children and families.
3. Each such department or division shall cooperate with the commission to develop a specific plan which shall be made available to the governor and the members of the general assembly by December 1, 1988.
(L. 1987 S.B. 244 § 2)
210.003. 1. No child shall be permitted to enroll in or attend any public, private or parochial day care center, preschool or nursery school caring for ten or more children unless such child has been adequately immunized against vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses specified by the department of health and senior services in accordance with recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP). The parent or guardian of such child shall provide satisfactory evidence of the required immunizations.
2. A child who has not completed all immunizations appropriate for his age may enroll, if:
(1) Satisfactory evidence is produced that such child has begun the process of immunization. The child may continue to attend as long as the immunization process is being accomplished according to the ACIP/Missouri department of health and senior services recommended schedule; or
(2) The parent or guardian has signed and placed on file with the day care administrator a statement of exemption which may be either of the following:
(a) A medical exemption, by which a child shall be exempted from the requirements of this section upon certification by a licensed physician that such immunization would seriously endanger the child's health or life; or
(b) A parent or guardian exemption, by which a child shall be exempted from the requirements of this section if one parent or guardian files a written objection to immunization with the day care administrator. Exemptions shall be accepted by the day care administrator when the necessary information as determined by the department of health and senior services is filed with the day care administrator by the parent or guardian. Exemption forms shall be provided by the department of health and senior services.
3. In the event of an outbreak or suspected outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease within a particular facility, the administrator of the facility shall follow the control measures instituted by the local health authority or the department of health and senior services or both the local health authority and the department of health and senior services, as established in Rule 19 CSR 20-20.040, "Measures for the Control of Communicable Diseases".
4. The administrator of each public, private or parochial day care center, preschool or nursery school shall cause to be prepared a record of immunization of every child enrolled in or attending a facility under his jurisdiction. An annual summary report shall be made by January fifteenth showing the immunization status of each child enrolled, using forms provided for this purpose by the department of health and senior services. The immunization records shall be available for review by department of health and senior services personnel upon request.
5. For purposes of this section, satisfactory evidence of immunization means a statement, certificate or record from a physician or other recognized health facility or personnel, stating that the required immunizations have been given to the child and verifying the type of vaccine and the month, day and year of administration.
6. Nothing in this section shall preclude any political subdivision from adopting more stringent rules regarding the immunization of preschool children.
(L. 1988 S.B. 797 § 1)Effective 9-1-88
CROSS REFERENCES:
Consent to immunization may be delegated to other persons, when, RSMo 431.058
Mandatory insurance coverage of immunizations, exceptions, RSMo 376.1215
210.004. All law enforcement agencies shall maintain a confidential record of the date and time a child less than seventeen years of age is taken into custody for any reason and the date and time such child is released from custody.
(L. 1995 H.B. 174, et al. § 2)
210.025. 1. To qualify for receipt of state or federal funds for providing child-care services in the home either by direct payment or through reimbursement to a child-care beneficiary, an applicant and any person over the age of seventeen who is living in the applicant's home shall be required to submit to a criminal background check pursuant to section 43.540, RSMo, and a check of the central registry for child abuse established in section 210.145. Effective January 1, 2001, the requirements of this subsection or subsection 2 of this section shall be satisfied through registration with the family care safety registry established in sections 210.900 to 210.936. Any costs associated with such checks shall be paid by the applicant.
2. Upon receipt of an application for state or federal funds for providing child-care services in the home, the family support division shall:
(1) Determine if a finding of child abuse or neglect by probable cause prior to August 28, 2004, or by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, involving the applicant or any person over the age of seventeen who is living in the applicant's home has been recorded pursuant to section 210.145 or 210.221;
(2) Determine if the applicant or any person over the age of seventeen who is living in the applicant's home has been refused licensure or has experienced licensure suspension or revocation pursuant to section 210.221 or 210.496; and
(3) Upon initial application, require the applicant to submit to fingerprinting and request a criminal background check of the applicant and any person over the age of seventeen who is living in the applicant's home pursuant to section 43.540, RSMo, and section 210.487, and inquire of the applicant whether any children less than seventeen years of age residing in the applicant's home have ever been certified as an adult and convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any crime.
3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 of this section, upon completion of the background checks in subsection 2 of this section, an applicant shall be denied state or federal funds for providing child care if such applicant, any person over the age of seventeen who is living in the applicant's home, and any child less than seventeen years of age who is living in the applicant's home and who the division has determined has been certified as an adult for the commission of a crime:
(1) Has had a finding of child abuse or neglect by probable cause prior to August 28, 2004, or by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, pursuant to section 210.145 or section 210.152;
(2) Has been refused licensure or has experienced licensure suspension or revocation pursuant to section 210.496;
(3) Has pled guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of any felony for an offense against the person as defined by chapter 565, RSMo, or any other offense against the person involving the endangerment of a child as prescribed by law; of any misdemeanor or felony for a sexual offense as defined by chapter 566, RSMo; of any misdemeanor or felony for an offense against the family as defined in chapter 568, RSMo, with the exception of the sale of fireworks, as defined in section 320.110*, RSMo, to a child under the age of eighteen; of any misdemeanor or felony for pornography or related offense as defined by chapter 573, RSMo; or of any similar crime in any federal, state, municipal or other court of similar jurisdiction of which the director has knowledge or any offenses or reports which will disqualify an applicant from receiving state or federal funds.
4. An applicant shall be given an opportunity by the division to offer any extenuating or mitigating circumstances regarding the findings, refusals or violations against such applicant or any person over the age of seventeen or less than seventeen who is living in the applicant's home listed in subsection 2 of this section. Such extenuating and mitigating circumstances may be considered by the division in its determination of whether to permit such applicant to receive state or federal funds for providing child care in the home.
5. An applicant who has been denied state or federal funds for providing child care in the home may appeal such denial decision in accordance with the provisions of section 208.080, RSMo.
6. If an applicant is denied state or federal funds for providing child care in the home based on the background check results for any person over the age of seventeen who is living in the applicant's home, the applicant shall not apply for such funds until such person is no longer living in the applicant's home.
7. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. All rulemaking authority delegated prior to August 28, 1999, is of no force and effect and repealed. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to repeal or affect the validity of any rule filed or adopted prior to August 28, 1999, if it fully complied with all applicable provisions of law. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 1999, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 1999 H.B. 490 & H.B. 308 § 1, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453 merged with S.B. 762)*Section 320.110 was repealed by S.B. 76 in 1985.
210.027. For child-care providers who receive state or federal funds for providing child-care services in the home either by direct payment or through reimbursement to a child-care beneficiary, the department of social services shall:
(1) Be authorized to revoke the registration of a registered provider for due cause;
(2) Require providers to be at least eighteen years of age;
(3) Where there are no local ordinances or regulations regarding smoke detectors, require providers, by rule, to install and maintain an adequate number of smoke detectors in the residence where child care is provided;
(4) Require providers to be tested for tuberculosis;
(5) Require providers to notify parents if the provider does not have immediate access to a telephone;
(6) Make providers aware of local opportunities for training in first aid and child care.
(L. 1999 H.B. 490 & H.B. 308 § 2)
210.030. 1. Every licensed physician, midwife, registered nurse and all persons who may undertake, in a professional way, the obstetrical and gynecological care of a pregnant woman in the state of Missouri shall, if the woman consents, take or cause to be taken a sample of venous blood of such woman at the time of the first prenatal examination, or not later than twenty days after the first prenatal examination, and subject such sample to an approved and standard serological test for syphilis, an approved serological test for hepatitis B and such other treatable diseases and metabolic disorders as are prescribed by the department of health and senior services. In any area of the state designated as a syphilis outbreak area by the department of health and senior services, if the mother consents, a sample of her venous blood shall be taken later in the course of pregnancy and at delivery for additional testing for syphilis as may be prescribed by the department. If a mother tests positive for hepatitis B, the physician or person who professionally undertakes the pediatric care of a newborn shall also administer the appropriate doses of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) in accordance with the current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). If the mother's hepatitis B status is unknown, the appropriate dose of hepatitis B vaccine shall be administered to the newborn in accordance with the current ACIP recommendations. If the mother consents, a sample of her venous blood shall be taken. If she tests positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) shall be administered to the newborn in accordance with the current ACIP recommendations.
2. The department of health and senior services shall, in consultation with the Missouri genetic disease advisory committee, make such rules pertaining to such tests as shall be dictated by accepted medical practice, and tests shall be of the types approved by the department of health and senior services. An approved and standard test for syphilis, hepatitis B, and other treatable diseases and metabolic disorders shall mean a test made in a laboratory approved by the department of health and senior services. No individual shall be denied testing by the department of health and senior services because of inability to pay.
(L. 1941 p. 367 § 1, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1196, A.L. 1993 H.B. 522, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1419, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1568)
210.040. As soon as the result of the test is determined, and if the test is positive or doubtfully positive for syphilis or hepatitis B, the physician, or such other obstetrical or gynecological attendant shall fill out a form to be furnished by the department of health and senior services of Missouri, with such finding noted thereon, and send it to the county or municipal department of health of the county or city in which the pregnant woman or the mother is then residing. In no event shall this finding be made public by any person.
(L. 1941 p. 367 § 2, A.L. 1993 H.B. 522)
210.050. In reporting every birth, and stillbirth, physicians and other persons attending pregnancy cases and required to report births and stillbirths, shall state on the report of birth, or stillbirth, whether a blood test for syphilis has been made during such pregnancy upon a specimen of venous blood taken from the woman who bore the child, and, if made, the date when and where such test was made, and if not made, the reason why such test was not made. Physicians and other persons shall also report whether a blood test for hepatitis B was performed in accordance with section 210.030. No report of birth, or stillbirth, shall contain the result of such blood test.
(L. 1941 p. 367 § 3, A.L. 1993 H.B. 522)
210.060. Any licensed physician, midwife, registered nurse and all persons who may undertake, in a professional way, the obstetrical and gynecological care of pregnant women in the state of Missouri, who shall publish in any manner not required by law the result of said blood tests, or who, if a blood test is made, fails to follow the provisions of sections 210.030 to 210.060 or who misrepresents the facts required to be reported in said sections, shall, on conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(L. 1941 p. 367 § 4, A.L. 1993 H.B. 522)
210.070. Every physician, midwife or nurse who shall be in attendance upon a newborn infant or its mother, shall drop into the eyes of such infant immediately after delivery, a prophylactic solution approved by the state department of health and senior services, and shall within forty-eight hours thereafter, report in writing to the board of health or county physician of the city, town or county where such birth occurs, his or her compliance with this section, stating the solution used by him or her.
(RSMo 1939 § 9994)Prior revisions: 1929 § 9124; 1919 § 7340; 1909 § 8321
210.080. Should one or both eyes of an infant become inflamed, swollen or red, and show an unnatural discharge at any time within two weeks after its birth, it shall be the duty of the parents or other persons having charge of such infant, to immediately report in writing to the board of health or county physician of the city, town or county in which such birth occurs, the fact that such inflammation, swelling and redness of the eyes and unnatural discharge exists. On receipt of such report, the board of health or county physician shall take such immediate action as it may deem necessary in order that blindness may be prevented.
(RSMo 1939 § 9995)Prior revision: 1929 § 9125
210.090. Every health officer shall furnish a copy of sections 210.070 to 210.100, to each and every person who is known to him to act as midwife or nurse in the city or town for which such health officer is appointed, and the secretary of state shall cause a sufficient number of copies of said sections to be printed, and shall supply the same to such health officers on application.
(RSMo 1939 § 9996)Prior revisions: 1929 § 9126; 1919 § 7341; 1909 § 8322
210.100. Any person violating any of the provisions of sections 210.070 to 210.090 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(RSMo 1939 § 9997, A. 1949 S.B. 1065 § 210.10) Prior revisions: 1929 § 9127; 1919 § 7342; 1909 § 8323
210.101. 1. There is hereby established the "Missouri Children's Services Commission", which shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The director or deputy director of the department of labor and industrial relations and the director or deputy director of each state agency, department, division, or other entity which provides services or programs for children, including, but not limited to, the department of mental health, the department of elementary and secondary education, the department of social services, the department of public safety and the department of health and senior services;
(2) One judge of a juvenile court, who shall be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court;
(3) One judge of a family court, who shall be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court;
(4) Four members, two from each political party, of the house of representatives, who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(5) Four members, two from each political party, of the senate, who shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. All members shall serve for as long as they hold the position which made them eligible for appointment to the Missouri children's services commission under this subsection. All members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties for the commission.
2. All meetings of the Missouri children's services commission shall be open to the public and shall, for all purposes, be deemed open public meetings under the provisions of sections 610.010 to 610.030, RSMo. The Missouri children's services commission shall meet no less than once every two months, and shall hold its first meeting no later than sixty days after September 28, 1983. Notice of all meetings of the commission shall be given to the general assembly in the same manner required for notifying the general public of meetings of the general assembly.
3. The Missouri children's services commission may make all rules it deems necessary to enable it to conduct its meetings, elect its officers, and set the terms and duties of its officers.
4. The commission shall elect from amongst its members a chairman, vice chairman, a secretary-reporter, and such other officers as it deems necessary.
5. The services of the personnel of any agency from which the director or deputy director is a member of the commission shall be made available to the commission at the discretion of such director or deputy director. All meetings of the commission shall be held in the state of Missouri.
6. The officers of the commission may hire an executive director. Funding for the executive director may be provided from the Missouri children's services commission fund or other sources provided by law.
7. The commission, by majority vote, may invite individuals representing local and federal agencies or private organizations and the general public to serve as ex officio members of the commission. Such individuals shall not have a vote in commission business and shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties for the commission.
(L. 1983 H.B. 256 § 1, A.L. 1987 H.B. 873, A.L. 1989 H.B. 22 & 390, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1415, A.L. 1995 S.B. 460)
210.102. 1. It shall be the duty of the Missouri children's services commission to:
(1) Make recommendations which will encourage greater interagency coordination, cooperation, more effective utilization of existing resources and less duplication of effort in activities of state agencies which affect the legal rights and well-being of children in Missouri;
(2) Develop an integrated state plan for the care provided to children in this state through state programs;
(3) Develop a plan to improve the quality of children's programs statewide. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Methods for promoting geographic availability and financial accessibility for all children and families in need of such services;
(b) Program recommendations for children's services which include child development, education, supervision, health and social services;
(4) Design and implement evaluation of the activities of the commission in fulfilling the duties as set out in this section;
(5) Report annually to the governor with five copies each to the house of representatives and senate about its activities including, but not limited to the following:
(a) A general description of the activities pertaining to children of each state agency having a member on the commission;
(b) A general description of the plans and goals, as they affect children, of each state agency having a member on the commission;
(c) Recommendations for statutory and appropriation initiatives to implement the integrated state plan;
(d) A report from the commission regarding the state of children in Missouri.
2. There is hereby established within the children's services commission the "Coordinating Board for Early Childhood", which shall constitute a body corporate and politic, and shall include but not be limited to the following members:
(1) A representative from the governor's office;
(2) A representative from each of the following departments: health and senior services, mental health, social services, and elementary and secondary education;
(3) A representative of the judiciary;
(4) A representative of the family and community trust board (FACT);
(5) A representative from the head start program;
(6) Nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate who are representatives of the groups, such as business, philanthropy, civic groups, faith-based organizations, parent groups, advocacy organizations, early childhood service providers, and other stakeholders.
The coordinating board may make all rules it deems necessary to enable it to conduct its meetings, elect its officers, and set the terms and duties of its officers. The coordinating board shall elect from amongst its members a chairperson, vice chairperson, a secretary-reporter, and such other officers as it deems necessary. Members of the board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses necessary to the performance of their official duties for the board.
3. The coordinating board for early childhood shall have the power to:
(1) Develop a comprehensive statewide long-range strategic plan for a cohesive early childhood system;
(2) Confer with public and private entities for the purpose of promoting and improving the development of children from birth through age five of this state;
(3) Identify legislative recommendations to improve services for children from birth through age five;
(4) Promote coordination of existing services and programs across public and private entities;
(5) Promote research-based approaches to services and ongoing program evaluation;
(6) Identify service gaps and advise public and private entities on methods to close such gaps;
(7) Apply for and accept gifts, grants, appropriations, loans, or contributions to the coordinating board for early childhood fund from any source, public or private, and enter into contracts or other transactions with any federal or state agency, any private organizations, or any other source in furtherance of the purpose of subsections 2 and 3 of this section, and take any and all actions necessary to avail itself of such aid and cooperation;
(8) Direct disbursements from the coordinating board for early childhood fund as provided in this section;
(9) Administer the coordinating board for early childhood fund and invest any portion of the moneys not required for immediate disbursement in obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, in obligations of the state of Missouri and its political subdivisions, in certificates of deposit and time deposits, or other obligations of banks and savings and loan associations, or in such other obligations as may be prescribed by the board;
(10) Purchase, receive, take by grant, gift, devise, bequest or otherwise, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, employ, use, and otherwise deal with real or personal property or any interests therein, wherever situated;
(11) Sell, convey, lease, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any of its property or any interest therein, wherever situated;
(12) Employ and fix the compensation of an executive director and such other agents or employees as it considers necessary;
(13) Adopt, alter, or repeal by its own bylaws, rules, and regulations governing the manner in which its business may be transacted;
(14) Adopt and use an official seal;
(15) Assess or charge fees as the board determines to be reasonable to carry out its purposes;
(16) Make all expenditures which are incident and necessary to carry out its purposes;
(17) Sue and be sued in its official name;
(18) Take such action, enter into such agreements, and exercise all functions necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and purposes set forth in this section.
4. There is hereby created the "Coordinating Board for Early Childhood Fund" which shall consist of the following:
(1) Any moneys appropriated by the general assembly for use by the board in carrying out the powers set out in subsections 2 and 3 of this section;
(2) Any moneys received from grants or which are given, donated, or contributed to the fund from any source;
(3) Any moneys received as fees authorized under subsections 2 and 3 of this section;
(4) Any moneys received as interest on deposits or as income on approved investments of the fund;
(5) Any moneys obtained from any other available source.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the coordinating board for early childhood fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.
(L. 1983 S.B. 256 § 2, A.L. 1989 H.B. 22 & 390, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.103. 1. There is established in the state treasury a special fund, to be known as the "Missouri Children's Services Commission Fund". The state treasurer shall credit to and deposit in the Missouri children's services commission fund all amounts which may be received from general revenue, grants, gifts, bequests, the federal government, or other sources granted or given for the purposes of sections 210.101 and 210.102.
2. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the Missouri children's services commission fund in the same manner as surplus state funds are invested pursuant to section 30.260, RSMo. All earnings resulting from the investment of moneys in the Missouri children's services commission fund shall be credited to the Missouri children's services commission fund.
3. The administration of the Missouri children's services commission fund, including, but not limited to, the disbursement of funds therefrom, shall be as prescribed by the Missouri children's services commission in its bylaws.
4. The provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, requiring all unexpended balances remaining in various state funds to be transferred and placed to the credit of the ordinary revenue of this state at the end of each biennium, shall not apply to the Missouri children's services commission fund.
5. Amounts received in the fund shall only be used by the commission for purposes authorized under sections 210.101 and 210.102.
(L. 1984 H.B. 1427 § 1, A.L. 1989 H.B. 22 & 390)
210.106. In no event shall failure to employ a child passenger restraint system required by section 307.179, RSMo, provide the basis for a claim of civil liability or negligence or contributory negligence of any person in any action for damages by reason of injury sustained by a child; nor shall such failure to employ such child passenger restraint system be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action.
(L. 1983 H.B. 29 § 2, A.L. 1993 S.B. 394, A.L. 2006 S.B. 872, et al.)
210.108. Sections 37.700 to 37.730, 168.133, 191.748, 207.085, 210.109, 210.110, 210.111, 210.112, 210.113, 210.127, 210.145, 210.147, 210.150, 210.152, 210.153, 210.160, 210.183, 210.187, 210.188, 210.482, 210.487, 210.518, 210.535, 210.542, 210.565, 210.760, 210.762, 211.031, 211.032, 211.059, 211.319, and 537.046, RSMo, shall be known and may be cited as the "Dominic James Memorial Foster Care Reform Act of 2004".
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453 § 37.699)
210.109. 1. The children's division shall establish a child protection system for the entire state.
2. The child protection system shall promote the safety of children and the integrity and preservation of their families by conducting investigations or family assessments and providing services in response to reports of child abuse or neglect. The system shall coordinate community resources and provide assistance or services to children and families identified to be at risk, and to prevent and remedy child abuse and neglect.
3. In addition to any duties specified in section 210.145, in implementing the child protection system, the division shall:
(1) Maintain a central registry;
(2) Receive reports and establish and maintain an information system operating at all times, capable of receiving and maintaining reports;
(3) Attempt to obtain the name and address of any person making a report in all cases, after obtaining relevant information regarding the alleged abuse or neglect, although reports may be made anonymously; except that, reports by mandatory reporters under section 210.115, including employees of the children's division, juvenile officers, and school personnel shall not be made anonymously, provided that the reporter shall be informed, at the time of the report, that the reporter's name and any other personally identifiable information shall be held as confidential and shall not be made public as provided under this section and section 211.319, RSMo;
(4) Upon receipt of a report, check with the information system to determine whether previous reports have been made regarding actual or suspected abuse or neglect of the subject child, of any siblings, and the perpetrator, and relevant dispositional information regarding such previous reports;
(5) Provide protective or preventive services to the family and child and to others in the home to prevent abuse or neglect, to safeguard their health and welfare, and to help preserve and stabilize the family whenever possible. The juvenile court shall cooperate with the division in providing such services;
(6) Collaborate with the community to identify comprehensive local services and assure access to those services for children and families where there is risk of abuse or neglect;
(7) Maintain a record which contains the facts ascertained which support the determination as well as the facts that do not support the determination;
(8) Whenever available and appropriate, contract for the provision of children's services through children's services providers and agencies in the community; except that the state shall be the sole provider of child abuse and neglect hotline services, the initial child abuse and neglect investigation, and the initial family assessment. The division shall attempt to seek input from child welfare service providers in completing the initial family assessment. In all legal proceedings involving children in the custody of the division, the division shall be represented in court by either division personnel or persons with whom the division contracts with for such legal representation. All children's services providers and agencies shall be subject to criminal background checks pursuant to chapter 43, RSMo, and shall submit names of all employees to the family care safety registry.
As used in this subsection, "report" includes any telephone call made pursuant to section 210.145.
(L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 1995 H.B. 232 & 485 merged with S.B. 174, A.L. 1997 H.B. 343 merged with S.B. 358, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1556 merged with S.B. 961, A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453)CROSS REFERENCE:
Application of law to adoption petitions filed on or after August 28, 1997, RSMo 453.012
(2005) Failure by state social workers to comply with mandatory state-created procedures in section does not constitute a procedural or substantive due process violation protected under the Fourteenth Amendment. Forrester v. Bass, 397 F.3d 1047 (8th Cir.).
210.110. As used in sections 210.109 to 210.165, and sections 210.180 to 210.183, the following terms mean:
(1) "Abuse", any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child's care, custody, and control, except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse;
(2) "Assessment and treatment services for children under ten years old", an approach to be developed by the children's division which will recognize and treat the specific needs of at-risk and abused or neglected children under the age of ten. The developmental and medical assessment may be a broad physical, developmental, and mental health screening to be completed within thirty days of a child's entry into custody and every six months thereafter as long as the child remains in care. Screenings may be offered at a centralized location and include, at a minimum, the following:
(a) Complete physical to be performed by a pediatrician familiar with the effects of abuse and neglect on young children;
(b) Developmental, behavioral, and emotional screening in addition to early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, including a core set of standardized and recognized instruments as well as interviews with the child and appropriate caregivers. The screening battery may be performed by a licensed mental health professional familiar with the effects of abuse and neglect on young children, who will then serve as the liaison between all service providers in ensuring that needed services are provided. Such treatment services may include in-home services, out-of-home placement, intensive twenty-four-hour treatment services, family counseling, parenting training and other best practices.
Children whose screenings indicate an area of concern may complete a comprehensive, in-depth health, psychodiagnostic, or developmental assessment within sixty days of entry into custody;
(3) "Central registry", a registry of persons where the division has found probable cause to believe prior to August 28, 2004, or by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, or a court has substantiated through court adjudication that the individual has committed child abuse or neglect or the person has pled guilty or has been found guilty of a crime pursuant to section 565.020, 565.021, 565.023, 565.024 or 565.050, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, section 566.030 or 566.060, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, or other crime pursuant to chapter 566, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age and the perpetrator is twenty-one years of age or older, section 567.050, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, section 568.020, 568.030, 568.045, 568.050, 568.060, 568.080, or 568.090, RSMo, section 573.025 or 573.035, RSMo, or an attempt to commit any such crimes. Any persons placed on the registry prior to August 28, 2004, shall remain on the registry for the duration of time required by section 210.152;
(4) "Child", any person, regardless of physical or mental condition, under eighteen years of age;
(5) "Children's services providers and agencies", any public, quasi-public, or private entity with the appropriate and relevant training and expertise in delivering services to children and their families as determined by the children's division, and capable of providing direct services and other family services for children in the custody of the children's division or any such entities or agencies that are receiving state moneys for such services;
(6) "Director", the director of the Missouri children's division within the department of social services;
(7) "Division", the Missouri children's division within the department of social services;
(8) "Family assessment and services", an approach to be developed by the children's division which will provide for a prompt assessment of a child who has been reported to the division as a victim of abuse or neglect by a person responsible for that child's care, custody or control and of that child's family, including risk of abuse and neglect and, if necessary, the provision of community-based services to reduce the risk and support the family;
(9) "Family support team meeting" or "team meeting", a meeting convened by the division or children's services provider in behalf of the family and/or child for the purpose of determining service and treatment needs, determining the need for placement and developing a plan for reunification or other permanency options, determining the appropriate placement of the child, evaluating case progress, and establishing and revising the case plan;
(10) "Investigation", the collection of physical and verbal evidence to determine if a child has been abused or neglected;
(11) "Jail or detention center personnel", employees and volunteers working in any premises or institution where incarceration, evaluation, care, treatment or rehabilitation is provided to persons who are being held under custody of the law;
(12) "Neglect", failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child, the proper or necessary support, education as required by law, nutrition or medical, surgical, or any other care necessary for the child's well-being;
(13) "Preponderance of the evidence", that degree of evidence that is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it or evidence which as a whole shows the fact to be proved to be more probable than not;
(14) "Probable cause", available facts when viewed in the light of surrounding circumstances which would cause a reasonable person to believe a child was abused or neglected;
(15) "Report", the communication of an allegation of child abuse or neglect to the division pursuant to section 210.115;
(16) "Those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child", those included but not limited to the parents or guardian of a child, other members of the child's household, or those exercising supervision over a child for any part of a twenty-four-hour day. Those responsible for the care, custody and control shall also include any adult who, based on relationship to the parents of the child, members of the child's household or the family, has access to the child.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 1, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1985 H.B. 366, et al., A.L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453, A.L. 2005 H.B. 568)(2007) Provisions of this section requiring inclusion in the central registry before a finding of abuse or neglect by a preponderance of the evidence by the child Abuse and Neglect Review Board violate due process, and are invalid. Jamison v. State, 218 S.W.3d 399 (Mo.banc).
210.111. By January 1, 2005, the children's division shall identify all children in the custody of the division currently receiving foster care services and shall report to the general assembly the type of foster care being provided, including but not limited to care provided in a licensed foster care home, institutional setting, residential setting, independent living setting, or kinship care setting, and the status of all such children. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the division to disclose the identity or precise location of any child in the custody of the division.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.112. 1. It is the policy of this state and its agencies to implement a foster care and child protection and welfare system focused on providing the highest quality of services and outcomes for children and their families. The department of social services shall implement such system subject to the following principles:
(1) The safety and welfare of children is paramount;
(2) Providers of direct services to children and their families will be evaluated in a uniform and consistent basis;
(3) Services to children and their families shall be provided in a timely manner to maximize the opportunity for successful outcomes; and
(4) Any provider of direct services to children and families shall have the appropriate and relevant training, education, and expertise to provide the highest quality of services possible which shall be consistent with the federal standards, but not less than the standards and policies used by the children's division as of January 1, 2004.
2. On or before July 1, 2005, and subject to appropriations, the children's division and any other state agency deemed necessary by the division shall, in consultation with the community and providers of services, enter into and implement contracts with qualified children's services providers and agencies to provide a comprehensive and deliberate system of service delivery for children and their families. Contracts shall be awarded through a competitive process and provided by children's services providers and agencies currently contracting with the state to provide such services and by public and private not-for-profit or limited liability corporations owned exclusively by not-for-profit corporations children's services providers and agencies which have:
(1) A proven record of providing child welfare services within the state of Missouri which shall be consistent with the federal standards, but not less than the standards and policies used by the children's division as of January 1, 2004; and
(2) The ability to provide a range of child welfare services, which may include case management services, family-centered services, foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, residential care, in-home services, foster care services, adoption services, relative care case management, planned permanent living services, and family reunification services.
No contracts shall be issued for services related to the child abuse and neglect hotline, investigations of alleged abuse and neglect, and initial family assessments. Any contracts entered into by the division shall be in accordance with all federal laws and regulations, and shall not result in the loss of federal funding. Such children's services providers and agencies under contract with the division shall be subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the provision of such services, and shall be subject to oversight and inspection by appropriate state agencies to assure compliance with standards which shall be consistent with the federal standards, but not less than the standards and policies used by the children's division as of January 1, 2004.
3. In entering into and implementing contracts under subsection 2 of this section, the division shall consider and direct their efforts towards geographic areas of the state, including Greene County, where eligible direct children's services providers and agencies are currently available and capable of providing a broad range of services, including case management services, family-centered services, foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, residential care, family preservation services, foster care services, adoption services, relative care case management, other planned living arrangements, and family reunification services consistent with federal guidelines. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the division from contracting on an as-needed basis for any individual child welfare service listed above.
4. The contracts entered into under this section shall assure that:
(1) Child welfare services shall be delivered to a child and the child's family by professionals who have substantial and relevant training, education, or competencies otherwise demonstrated in the area of children and family services;
(2) Children's services providers and agencies shall be evaluated by the division based on objective, consistent, and performance-based criteria;
(3) Any case management services provided shall be subject to a case management plan established under subsection 5 of this section which is consistent with all relevant federal guidelines. The case management plan shall focus on attaining permanency in children's living conditions to the greatest extent possible and shall include concurrent planning and independent living where appropriate in accordance with the best interests of each child served and considering relevant factors applicable to each individual case as provided by law, including:
(a) The interaction and interrelationship of a child with the child's foster parents, biological or adoptive parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests;
(b) A child's adjustment to his or her foster home, school, and community;
(c) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved, including any history of abuse of or by any individuals involved;
(d) The needs of the child for a continuing relationship with the child's biological or adoptive parents and the ability and willingness of the child's biological or adoptive parents to actively perform their functions as parents with regard to the needs of the child; and
(e) For any child under ten years old, treatment services may be available as defined in section 210.110. Assessments, as defined in section 210.110, may occur to determine which treatment services best meet the child's psychological and social needs. When the assessment indicates that a child's needs can be best resolved by intensive twenty-four-hour treatment services, the division will locate, contract, and place the child with the appropriate organizations. This placement will be viewed as the least restrictive for the child based on the assessment;
(4) The delivery system shall have sufficient flexibility to take into account children and families on a case-by-case basis;
(5) The delivery system shall provide a mechanism for the assessment of strategies to work with children and families immediately upon entry into the system to maximize permanency and successful outcome in the shortest time possible and shall include concurrent planning. Outcome measures for private and public agencies shall be equal for each program; and
(6) Payment to the children's services providers and agencies shall be made based on the reasonable costs of services, including responsibilities necessary to execute the contract. Contracts shall provide incentives in addition to the costs of services provided in recognition of accomplishment of the case goals and the corresponding cost savings to the state. The division shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this subdivision.
5. Contracts entered into under this section shall require that a case management plan consistent with all relevant federal guidelines shall be developed for each child at the earliest time after the initial investigation, but in no event longer than fourteen days after the initial investigation or referral to the contractor by the division. Such case management plan shall be presented to the court and be the foundation of service delivery to the child and family. The case management plan shall, at a minimum, include:
(1) An outcome target based on the child and family situation achieving permanency or independent living, where appropriate;
(2) Services authorized and necessary to facilitate the outcome target;
(3) Time frames in which services will be delivered; and
(4) Necessary evaluations and reporting.
In addition to any visits and assessments required under case management, services to be provided by a public or private children's services provider under the specific case management plan may include family-centered services, foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, residential care, in-home services, foster care services, adoption services, relative care case services, planned permanent living services, and family reunification services. In all cases, an appropriate level of services shall be provided to the child and family after permanency is achieved to assure a continued successful outcome.
6. On or before July 15, 2006, and each July fifteenth thereafter that the project is in operation, the division shall submit a report to the general assembly which shall include:
(1) Details about the specifics of the contracts, including the number of children and families served, the cost to the state for contracting such services, the current status of the children and families served, an assessment of the quality of services provided and outcomes achieved, and an overall evaluation of the project; and
(2) Any recommendations regarding the continuation or possible statewide implementation of such project; and
(3) Any information or recommendations directly related to the provision of direct services for children and their families that any of the contracting children's services providers and agencies request to have included in the report.
7. The division shall accept as prima facie evidence of completion of the requirements for licensure under sections 210.481 to 210.511 proof that an agency is accredited by any of the following nationally recognized bodies: the Council on Accreditation of Services, Children and Families, Inc.; the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals; or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. The division shall not require any further evidence of qualification for licensure if such proof of voluntary accreditation is submitted.
8. By February 1, 2005, the children's division shall promulgate and have in effect rules to implement the provisions of this section and, pursuant to this section, shall define implementation plans and dates. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453, A.L. 2005 H.B. 568)
210.113. It is the intent and goal of the general assembly to have the department attain accreditation by the Council for Accreditation for Families and Children's Services within five years of August 28, 2004.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.114. 1. Except as otherwise provided in section 207.085, RSMo, a private contractor, as defined in subdivision (4) of section 210.110, with the children's division that receives state moneys from the division or the department for providing services to children and their families shall have qualified immunity from civil liability for providing such services when the child is not in the physical care of such private contractor to the same extent that the children's division has qualified immunity from civil liability when the division or department directly provides such services.
2. This section shall not apply if a private contractor described above knowingly violates a stated or written policy of the division, any rule promulgated by the division, or any state law directly related to child abuse and neglect, or any state law directly related to the child abuse and neglect activities of the division or any local ordinance relating to the safety condition of the property.
(L. 2005 H.B. 568 merged with S.B. 420 & 344 § 210.116)
210.115. 1. When any physician, medical examiner, coroner, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, resident, intern, nurse, hospital or clinic personnel that are engaged in the examination, care, treatment or research of persons, and any other health practitioner, psychologist, mental health professional, social worker, day care center worker or other child-care worker, juvenile officer, probation or parole officer, jail or detention center personnel, teacher, principal or other school official, minister as provided by section 352.400, RSMo, peace officer or law enforcement official, or other person with responsibility for the care of children has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, that person shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the division in accordance with the provisions of sections 210.109 to 210.183. As used in this section, the term "abuse" is not limited to abuse inflicted by a person responsible for the child's care, custody and control as specified in section 210.110, but shall also include abuse inflicted by any other person.
2. Whenever such person is required to report pursuant to sections 210.109 to 210.183 in an official capacity as a staff member of a medical institution, school facility, or other agency, whether public or private, the person in charge or a designated agent shall be notified immediately. The person in charge or a designated agent shall then become responsible for immediately making or causing such report to be made to the division. Nothing in this section, however, is meant to preclude any person from reporting abuse or neglect.
3. Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 210.109 to 210.183, any child who does not receive specified medical treatment by reason of the legitimate practice of the religious belief of the child's parents, guardian, or others legally responsible for the child, for that reason alone, shall not be found to be an abused or neglected child, and such parents, guardian or other persons legally responsible for the child shall not be entered into the central registry. However, the division may accept reports concerning such a child and may subsequently investigate or conduct a family assessment as a result of that report. Such an exception shall not limit the administrative or judicial authority of the state to ensure that medical services are provided to the child when the child's health requires it.
4. In addition to those persons and officials required to report actual or suspected abuse or neglect, any other person may report in accordance with sections 210.109 to 210.183 if such person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.
5. Any person or official required to report pursuant to this section, including employees of the division, who has probable cause to suspect that a child who is or may be under the age of eighteen, who is eligible to receive a certificate of live birth, has died shall report that fact to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner. If, upon review of the circumstances and medical information, the medical examiner or coroner determines that the child died of natural causes while under medical care for an established natural disease, the coroner, medical examiner or physician shall notify the division of the child's death and that the child's attending physician shall be signing the death certificate. In all other cases, the medical examiner or coroner shall accept the report for investigation, shall immediately notify the division of the child's death as required in section 58.452, RSMo, and shall report the findings to the child fatality review panel established pursuant to section 210.192.
6. Any person or individual required to report may also report the suspicion of abuse or neglect to any law enforcement agency or juvenile office. Such report shall not, however, take the place of reporting or causing a report to be made to the division.
7. If an individual required to report suspected instances of abuse or neglect pursuant to this section has reason to believe that the victim of such abuse or neglect is a resident of another state or was injured as a result of an act which occurred in another state, the person required to report such abuse or neglect may, in lieu of reporting to the Missouri division of family services, make such a report to the child protection agency of the other state with the authority to receive such reports pursuant to the laws of such other state. If such agency accepts the report, no report is required to be made, but may be made, to the Missouri division of family services.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 2, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1991 H.B. 185, A.L. 1993 S.B. 253 merged with S.B. 394, A.L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1556, A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2002 S.B. 923, et al., A.L. 2003 H.B. 445)CROSS REFERENCE:
Child abuse, ministers duty to report, RSMo 352.400
(1986) It has been held that a violation of this section does not give rise to a private cause of action. Doe "A" v. Special School District of St. Louis County, 637 F.Supp. 1138 (E.D. Mo.). (2004) Section criminalizing failure to report child abuse is not unconstitutional under void for vagueness doctrine. State v. Brown, 140 S.W.3d 51 (Mo.banc).
210.117. 1. A child taken into the custody of the state shall not be reunited with a parent or placed in a home in which the parent or any person residing in the home has been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, any of the following offenses when a child was the victim:
(1) A felony violation of section 566.030, 566.032, 566.040, 566.060, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.070, 566.083, 566.090, 566.100, 566.111, 566.151, 566.203, 566.206, 566.209, 566.212, or 566.215, RSMo;
(2) A violation of section 568.020, RSMo;
(3) A violation of subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of section 568.060, RSMo;
(4) A violation of section 568.065, RSMo;
(5) A violation of section 568.080, RSMo;
(6) A violation of section 568.090, RSMo; or
(7) A violation of section 568.175, RSMo.
2. For all other violations of offenses in chapters 566 and 568, RSMo, not specifically listed in subsection 1 of this section or for a violation of an offense committed in another state when a child is the victim that would be a violation of chapter 566 or 568, RSMo, if committed in Missouri, the division may exercise its discretion regarding the placement of a child taken into the custody of the state in which a parent or any person residing in the home has been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, any such offense.
3. In any case where the children's division determines based on a substantiated report of child abuse that a child has abused another child, the abusing child shall be prohibited from returning to or residing in any residence, facility, or school within one thousand feet of the residence of the abused child or any child care facility or school that the abused child attends, unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the alleged abuse did not occur or the abused child reaches the age of eighteen, whichever earlier occurs. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply when the abusing child and the abused child are siblings or children living in the same home.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453, A.L. 2005 H.B. 568 and S.B. 155 and S.B. 420 & 344, A.L. 2005 1st Ex. Sess. H.B. 2)Effective 9-15-05
210.120. Whenever a person is required to report under sections 210.110 to 210.165 in his official capacity as a staff member of a medical institution, whether public or private, he shall immediately notify the physician in charge or his designee who shall then take or cause to be taken color photographs of physical trauma and shall, if medically indicated, cause to be performed radiologic examination of the child who is the subject of a report, costs of which shall be paid by the division. Reproductions of such color photographs and/or radiologic reports shall be sent to the division as soon as possible.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 3)Effective 6-6-75
210.122. 1. As used in this section, "voluntary placement agreement" means a written agreement between the department of social services and a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child seventeen years of age or younger solely in need of mental health treatment. A voluntary placement agreement developed under a department of mental health assessment and certification of appropriateness authorizes the department of social services to administer the placement and care of a child while the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child retains legal custody.
2. The department of social services may enter into a cooperative interagency agreement with the department of mental health authorizing the department of mental health to administer the placement and care of a child under a voluntary placement agreement. The department of mental health is defined as a child-placing agency under section 210.481 solely for children placed under a voluntary placement agreement.
3. Any function delegated from the department of social services to the department of mental health regarding the placement and care of children shall be administered and supervised by the department of social services to ensure compliance with federal and state law.
4. The departments of social services and mental health may promulgate rules under this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453 § 210.108)
210.125. 1. A police officer, law enforcement official, or a physician who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering from illness or injury or is in danger of personal harm by reason of his surroundings and that a case of child abuse or neglect exists, may request that the juvenile officer take the child into protective custody under chapter 211, RSMo.
2. A police officer, law enforcement official, or a physician who has reasonable cause to believe that a child is in imminent danger of suffering serious physical harm or a threat to life as a result of abuse or neglect and such person has reasonable cause to believe the harm or threat to life may occur before a juvenile court could issue a temporary protective custody order or before a juvenile officer could take the child into protective custody, the police officer, law enforcement official or physician may take or retain temporary protective custody of the child without the consent of the child's parents, guardian or others legally responsible for his care.
3. Any person taking a child in protective custody under this section shall immediately notify the juvenile officer of the court of the county in which the child is located of his actions and notify the division and make a reasonable attempt to advise the parents, guardians or others legally responsible for the child's care. The jurisdiction of the juvenile court attaches from the time the juvenile is taken into protective custody. Such person shall file, as soon as practicable but no later than twelve hours, a written statement with the juvenile officer which sets forth the identity of the child and the facts and circumstances which gave such person reasonable cause to believe that there was imminent danger of serious physical harm or threat to the life of the child. Upon notification that a child has been taken into protective custody, the juvenile officer shall either return the child to his parents, guardian, or others responsible for his care or shall initiate child protective proceedings under chapter 211, RSMo. In no event shall an employee of the division, acting upon his own, remove a child under the provisions of this act*.
4. Temporary protective custody for purposes of this section shall not exceed twenty-four hours. Temporary protective custody for a period beyond twenty-four hours may be authorized only by an order of the juvenile court.
5. For the purposes of this section, "temporary protective custody" shall mean temporary placement within a hospital or medical facility or emergency foster care facility or such other suitable custody placement as the court may direct; provided, however, that an abused or neglected child may not be detained in temporary custody in a secure detention facility.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 4, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al.)*"This act" (H.B. 1171, et al., 1982) contained numerous sections. Consult Disposition of Sections table for a definitive listing.
210.127. 1. If the location or identity of the biological parent or parents of a child in the custody of the division is unknown, the children's division shall utilize all reasonable and effective means available to conduct a diligent search for the biological parent or parents of such child.
2. For purposes of this section, "diligent search" means the efforts of the division, or an entity under contract with the division, to locate a biological parent whose identity or location is unknown, initiated as soon as the division is made aware of the existence of such parent, with the search progress reported at each court hearing until the parent is either identified and located or the court excuses further search.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.130. 1. Oral reports of abuse or neglect shall be made to the division by telephone or otherwise.
2. Such reports shall include the following information: The names and addresses of the child and his parents or other persons responsible for his care, if known; the child's age, sex, and race; the nature and extent of the child's injuries, abuse, or neglect, including any evidence of previous injuries, abuse, or neglect to the child or his siblings; the name, age and address of the person responsible for the injuries, abuse or neglect, if known; family composition; the source of the report; the name and address of the person making the report, his occupation, and where he can be reached; the actions taken by the reporting source, including the taking of color photographs or the making of radiologic examinations pursuant to sections 210.110 to 210.165, or both such taking of color photographs or making of radiologic examinations, removal or keeping of the child, notifying the coroner or medical examiner, and other information that the person making the report believes may be helpful in the furtherance of the purposes of sections 210.110 to 210.165.
3. Evidence of sexual abuse or sexual molestation of any child under eighteen years of age shall be turned over to the division within twenty-four hours by those mandated to report.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 5, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al.)
210.135. Any person, official, or institution complying with the provisions of sections 210.110 to 210.165 in the making of a report, the taking of color photographs, or the making of radiologic examinations pursuant to sections 210.110 to 210.165, or both such taking of color photographs and making of radiologic examinations, or the removal or retaining a child pursuant to sections 210.110 to 210.165, or in cooperating with the division, or any other law enforcement agency, juvenile office, court, or child-protective service agency of this or any other state, in any of the activities pursuant to sections 210.110 to 210.165, or any other allegation of child abuse, neglect or assault, pursuant to sections 568.045 to 568.060, RSMo, shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that otherwise might result by reason of such actions. Provided, however, any person, official or institution intentionally filing a false report, acting in bad faith, or with ill intent, shall not have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal. Any such person, official, or institution shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 6, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1993 H.B. 170, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1556)
210.140. Any legally recognized privileged communication, except that between attorney and client or involving communications made to a minister or clergyperson, shall not apply to situations involving known or suspected child abuse or neglect and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required or permitted by sections 210.110 to 210.165, to cooperate with the division in any of its activities pursuant to sections 210.110 to 210.165, or to give or accept evidence in any judicial proceeding relating to child abuse or neglect.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 7, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 2001 S.B. 267)(1984) "Situations" as used in this section restricting the invocation of certain privileged communications in child abuse proceedings includes both civil and criminal proceedings. State ex rel. D.M. v. Hoester (Mo. banc), 681 S.W.2d 449.
210.145. 1. The division shall develop protocols which give priority to:
(1) Ensuring the well-being and safety of the child in instances where child abuse or neglect has been alleged;
(2) Promoting the preservation and reunification of children and families consistent with state and federal law;
(3) Providing due process for those accused of child abuse or neglect; and
(4) Maintaining an information system operating at all times, capable of receiving and maintaining reports. This information system shall have the ability to receive reports over a single, statewide toll-free number. Such information system shall maintain the results of all investigations, family assessments and services, and other relevant information.
2. The division shall utilize structured decision-making protocols for classification purposes of all child abuse and neglect reports. The protocols developed by the division shall give priority to ensuring the well-being and safety of the child. All child abuse and neglect reports shall be initiated within twenty-four hours and shall be classified based upon the reported risk and injury to the child. The division shall promulgate rules regarding the structured decision-making protocols to be utilized for all child abuse and neglect reports.
3. Upon receipt of a report, the division shall determine if the report merits investigation, including reports which if true would constitute a suspected violation of any of the following: section 565.020, 565.021, 565.023, 565.024, or 565.050, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, section 566.030 or 566.060, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, or other crimes under chapter 566, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age and the perpetrator is twenty-one years of age or older, section 567.050, RSMo, if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, section 568.020, 568.030, 568.045, 568.050, 568.060, 568.080, or 568.090, RSMo, section 573.025, 573.035, 573.037, or 573.040, RSMo, or an attempt to commit any such crimes. The division shall immediately communicate all reports that merit investigation to its appropriate local office and any relevant information as may be contained in the information system. The local division staff shall determine, through the use of protocols developed by the division, whether an investigation or the family assessment and services approach should be used to respond to the allegation. The protocols developed by the division shall give priority to ensuring the well-being and safety of the child.
4. The local office shall contact the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately upon receipt of a report which division personnel determine merits an investigation and provide such agency with a detailed description of the report received. In such cases the local division office shall request the assistance of the local law enforcement agency in all aspects of the investigation of the complaint. The appropriate law enforcement agency shall either assist the division in the investigation or provide the division, within twenty-four hours, an explanation in writing detailing the reasons why it is unable to assist.
5. The local office of the division shall cause an investigation or family assessment and services approach to be initiated in accordance with the protocols established in subsection 2 of this section, except in cases where the sole basis for the report is educational neglect. If the report indicates that educational neglect is the only complaint and there is no suspicion of other neglect or abuse, the investigation shall be initiated within seventy-two hours of receipt of the report. If the report indicates the child is in danger of serious physical harm or threat to life, an investigation shall include direct observation of the subject child within twenty-four hours of the receipt of the report. Local law enforcement shall take all necessary steps to facilitate such direct observation. If the parents of the child are not the alleged abusers, a parent of the child must be notified prior to the child being interviewed by the division. If the abuse is alleged to have occurred in a school or child-care facility the division shall not meet with the child in any school building or child-care facility building where abuse of such child is alleged to have occurred. When the child is reported absent from the residence, the location and the well-being of the child shall be verified. For purposes of this subsection, child-care facility shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in section 210.201.
6. The director of the division shall name at least one chief investigator for each local division office, who shall direct the division response on any case involving a second or subsequent incident regarding the same subject child or perpetrator. The duties of a chief investigator shall include verification of direct observation of the subject child by the division and shall ensure information regarding the status of an investigation is provided to the public school district liaison. The public school district liaison shall develop protocol in conjunction with the chief investigator to ensure information regarding an investigation is shared with appropriate school personnel. The superintendent of each school district shall designate a specific person or persons to act as the public school district liaison. Should the subject child attend a nonpublic school the chief investigator shall notify the school principal of the investigation. Upon notification of an investigation, all information received by the public school district liaison or the school shall be subject to the provisions of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C., Section 1232g, and federal rule 34 C.F.R., Part 99.
7. The investigation shall include but not be limited to the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse or neglect; the identity and age of the person responsible for the abuse or neglect; the names and conditions of other children in the home, if any; the home environment and the relationship of the subject child to the parents or other persons responsible for the child's care; any indication of incidents of physical violence against any other household or family member; and other pertinent data.
8. When a report has been made by a person required to report under section 210.115, the division shall contact the person who made such report within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the report in order to ensure that full information has been received and to obtain any additional information or medical records, or both, that may be pertinent.
9. Upon completion of the investigation, if the division suspects that the report was made maliciously or for the purpose of harassment, the division shall refer the report and any evidence of malice or harassment to the local prosecuting or circuit attorney.
10. Multidisciplinary teams shall be used whenever conducting the investigation as determined by the division in conjunction with local law enforcement. Multidisciplinary teams shall be used in providing protective or preventive social services, including the services of law enforcement, a liaison of the local public school, the juvenile officer, the juvenile court, and other agencies, both public and private.
11. For all family support team meetings involving an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect, the parents, legal counsel for the parents, foster parents, the legal guardian or custodian of the child, the guardian ad litem for the child, and the volunteer advocate for the child shall be provided notice and be permitted to attend all such meetings. Family members, other than alleged perpetrators, or other community informal or formal service providers that provide significant support to the child and other individuals may also be invited at the discretion of the parents of the child. In addition, the parents, the legal counsel for the parents, the legal guardian or custodian and the foster parents may request that other individuals, other than alleged perpetrators, be permitted to attend such team meetings. Once a person is provided notice of or attends such team meetings, the division or the convenor of the meeting shall provide such persons with notice of all such subsequent meetings involving the child. Families may determine whether individuals invited at their discretion shall continue to be invited.
12. If the appropriate local division personnel determine after an investigation has begun that completing an investigation is not appropriate, the division shall conduct a family assessment and services approach. The division shall provide written notification to local law enforcement prior to terminating any investigative process. The reason for the termination of the investigative process shall be documented in the record of the division and the written notification submitted to local law enforcement. Such notification shall not preclude nor prevent any investigation by law enforcement.
13. If the appropriate local division personnel determines to use a family assessment and services approach, the division shall:
(1) Assess any service needs of the family. The assessment of risk and service needs shall be based on information gathered from the family and other sources;
(2) Provide services which are voluntary and time-limited unless it is determined by the division based on the assessment of risk that there will be a high risk of abuse or neglect if the family refuses to accept the services. The division shall identify services for families where it is determined that the child is at high risk of future abuse or neglect. The division shall thoroughly document in the record its attempt to provide voluntary services and the reasons these services are important to reduce the risk of future abuse or neglect to the child. If the family continues to refuse voluntary services or the child needs to be protected, the division may commence an investigation;
(3) Commence an immediate investigation if at any time during the family assessment and services approach the division determines that an investigation, as delineated in sections 210.109 to 210.183, is required. The division staff who have conducted the assessment may remain involved in the provision of services to the child and family;
(4) Document at the time the case is closed, the outcome of the family assessment and services approach, any service provided and the removal of risk to the child, if it existed.
14. Within thirty days of an oral report of abuse or neglect, the local office shall update the information in the information system. The information system shall contain, at a minimum, the determination made by the division as a result of the investigation, identifying information on the subjects of the report, those responsible for the care of the subject child and other relevant dispositional information. The division shall complete all investigations within thirty days, unless good cause for the failure to complete the investigation is documented in the information system. If a child involved in a pending investigation dies, the investigation shall remain open until the division's investigation surrounding the death is completed. If the investigation is not completed within thirty days, the information system shall be updated at regular intervals and upon the completion of the investigation. The information in the information system shall be updated to reflect any subsequent findings, including any changes to the findings based on an administrative or judicial hearing on the matter.
15. A person required to report under section 210.115 to the division and any person making a report of child abuse or neglect made to the division which is not made anonymously shall be informed by the division of his or her right to obtain information concerning the disposition of his or her report. Such person shall receive, from the local office, if requested, information on the general disposition of his or her report. Such person may receive, if requested, findings and information concerning the case. Such release of information shall be at the discretion of the director based upon a review of the reporter's ability to assist in protecting the child or the potential harm to the child or other children within the family. The local office shall respond to the request within forty-five days. The findings shall be made available to the reporter within five days of the outcome of the investigation. If the report is determined to be unsubstantiated, the reporter may request that the report be referred by the division to the office of child advocate for children's protection and services established in sections 37.700 to 37.730, RSMo. Upon request by a reporter under this subsection, the division shall refer an unsubstantiated report of child abuse or neglect to the office of child advocate for children's protection and services.
16. In any judicial proceeding involving the custody of a child the fact that a report may have been made pursuant to sections 210.109 to 210.183 shall not be admissible. However:
(1) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the introduction of evidence from independent sources to support the allegations that may have caused a report to have been made; and
(2) The court may on its own motion, or shall if requested by a party to the proceeding, make an inquiry not on the record with the children's division to determine if such a report has been made. If a report has been made, the court may stay the custody proceeding until the children's division completes its investigation.
17. In any judicial proceeding involving the custody of a child where the court determines that the child is in need of services pursuant to subdivision (d) of subsection 1 of section 211.031, RSMo, and has taken jurisdiction, the child's parent, guardian or custodian shall not be entered into the registry.
18. The children's division is hereby granted the authority to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of section 207.021, RSMo, and chapter 536, RSMo, to carry out the provisions of sections 210.109 to 210.183.
19. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2000, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 8, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1986 S.B. 470, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1370, et al., A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2002 S.B. 923, et al., A.L. 2003 H.B. 613, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453 merged with S.B. 945 and S.B. 803 & 1257 merged with S.B. 968 and S.B. 969, A.L. 2007 S.B. 25)(2005) Failure by state social workers to comply with mandatory state-created procedures in section does not constitute a procedural or substantive due process violation protected under the Fourteenth Amendment. Forrester v. Bass, 397 F.3d 1047 (8th Cir.).
210.147. 1. Except as otherwise provided by law, all information provided at any family support team meeting held in relation to the removal of a child from the child's home is confidential; except that:
(1) Any parent or party may waive confidentiality for himself or herself to the extent permitted by law; and
(2) Any parent of the child shall have an absolute right to video and/or audio tape such team meetings to the extent permitted by law; and
(3) No parent or party shall be required to sign a confidentiality agreement before testifying or providing information at such team meetings. Any person, other than a parent or party, who does not agree to maintain confidentiality of the information provided at such team meetings may be excluded from all or any portion of such team meetings during which such person is not testifying or providing information.
2. The division shall be responsible for developing a form to be signed at the conclusion of any team meeting held in relation to a child removed from the home and placed in the custody of the state that reflects the core commitments made by the children's division or the convenor of the team meeting and the parents of the child or any other party. The content of the form shall be consistent with service agreements or case plans required by statute, but not the specific address of the child; whether the child shall remain in current placement or be moved to a new placement; visitation schedule for the child's family; and any additional core commitments. Any dissenting views shall be recorded and attested to on such form. The parents and any other party shall be provided with a copy of the signed document.
(L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.150. 1. The children's division shall ensure the confidentiality of all reports and records made pursuant to sections 210.109 to 210.183 and maintained by the division, its local offices, the central registry, and other appropriate persons, officials, and institutions pursuant to sections 210.109 to 210.183. To protect the rights of the family and the child named in the report as a victim, the children's division shall establish guidelines which will ensure that any disclosure of information concerning the abuse and neglect involving that child is made only to persons or agencies that have a right to such information. The division may require persons to make written requests for access to records maintained by the division. The division shall only release information to persons who have a right to such information. The division shall notify persons receiving information pursuant to subdivisions (2), (7), (8) and (9) of subsection 2 of this section of the purpose for which the information is released and of the penalties for unauthorized dissemination of information. Such information shall be used only for the purpose for which the information is released.
2. Only the following persons shall have access to investigation records contained in the central registry:
(1) Appropriate federal, state or local criminal justice agency personnel, or any agent of such entity, with a need for such information under the law to protect children from abuse or neglect;
(2) A physician or a designated agent who reasonably believes that the child being examined may be abused or neglected;
(3) Appropriate staff of the division and of its local offices, including interdisciplinary teams which are formed to assist the division in investigation, evaluation and treatment of child abuse and neglect cases or a multidisciplinary provider of professional treatment services for a child referred to the provider;
(4) Any child named in the report as a victim, or a legal representative, or the parent, if not the alleged perpetrator, or guardian of such person when such person is a minor, or is mentally ill or otherwise incompetent, but the names of reporters shall not be furnished to persons in this category. Prior to the release of any identifying information, the division shall determine if the release of such identifying information may place a person's life or safety in danger. If the division makes the determination that a person's life or safety may be in danger, the identifying information shall not be released. The division shall provide a method for confirming or certifying that a designee is acting on behalf of a subject;
(5) Any alleged perpetrator named in the report, but the names of reporters shall not be furnished to persons in this category. Prior to the release of any identifying information, the division shall determine if the release of such identifying information may place a person's life or safety in danger. If the division makes the determination that a person's life or safety may be in danger, the identifying information shall not be released. However, the investigation reports will not be released to any alleged perpetrator with pending criminal charges arising out of the facts and circumstances named in the investigation records until an indictment is returned or an information filed;
(6) A grand jury, juvenile officer, prosecuting attorney, law enforcement officer involved in the investigation of child abuse or neglect, juvenile court or other court conducting abuse or neglect or child protective proceedings or child custody proceedings, and other federal, state and local government entities, or any agent of such entity, with a need for such information in order to carry out its responsibilities under the law to protect children from abuse or neglect;
(7) Any person engaged in a bona fide research purpose, with the permission of the director; provided, however, that no information identifying the child named in the report as a victim or the reporters shall be made available to the researcher, unless the identifying information is essential to the research or evaluation and the child named in the report as a victim or, if the child is less than eighteen years of age, through the child's parent, or guardian provides written permission;
(8) Any child-care facility; child-placing agency; residential-care facility, including group homes; juvenile courts; public or private elementary schools; public or private secondary schools; or any other public or private agency exercising temporary supervision over a child or providing or having care or custody of a child who may request an examination of the central registry from the division for all employees and volunteers or prospective employees and volunteers, who do or will provide services or care to children. Any agency or business recognized by the division or business which provides training and places or recommends people for employment or for volunteers in positions where they will provide services or care to children may request the division to provide an examination of the central registry. Such agency or business shall provide verification of its status as a recognized agency. Requests for examinations shall be made to the division director or the director's designee in writing by the chief administrative officer of the above homes, centers, public and private elementary schools, public and private secondary schools, agencies, or courts. The division shall respond in writing to that officer. The response shall include information pertaining to the nature and disposition of any report or reports of abuse or neglect revealed by the examination of the central registry. This response shall not include any identifying information regarding any person other than the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or neglect;
(9) Any parent or legal guardian who inquires about a child abuse or neglect report involving a specific person or child-care facility who does or may provide services or care to a child of the person requesting the information. Request for examinations shall be made to the division director or the director's designee, in writing, by the parent or legal guardian of the child and shall be accompanied with a signed and notarized release form from the person who does or may provide care or services to the child. The notarized release form shall include the full name, date of birth and Social Security number of the person who does or may provide care or services to a child. The response shall include information pertaining to the nature and disposition of any report or reports of abuse or neglect revealed by the examination of the central registry. This response shall not include any identifying information regarding any person other than the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or neglect. The response shall be given within ten working days of the time it was received by the division;
(10) Any person who inquires about a child abuse or neglect report involving a specific child-care facility, child-placing agency, residential-care facility, public and private elementary schools, public and private secondary schools, juvenile court or other state agency. The information available to these persons is limited to the nature and disposition of any report contained in the central registry and shall not include any identifying information pertaining to any person mentioned in the report;
(11) Any state agency acting pursuant to statutes regarding a license of any person, institution, or agency which provides care for or services to children;
(12) Any child fatality review panel established pursuant to section 210.192 or any state child fatality review panel established pursuant to section 210.195;
(13) Any person who is a tenure-track or full-time research faculty member at an accredited institution of higher education engaged in scholarly research, with the permission of the director. Prior to the release of any identifying information, the director shall require the researcher to present a plan for maintaining the confidentiality of the identifying information. The researcher shall be prohibited from releasing the identifying information of individual cases.
3. Only the following persons shall have access to records maintained by the division pursuant to section 210.152 for which the division has received a report of child abuse and neglect and which the division has determined that there is insufficient evidence or in which the division proceeded with the family assessment and services approach:
(1) Appropriate staff of the division;
(2) Any child named in the report as a victim, or a legal representative, or the parent or guardian of such person when such person is a minor, or is mentally ill or otherwise incompetent. The names or other identifying information of reporters shall not be furnished to persons in this category. Prior to the release of any identifying information, the division shall determine if the release of such identifying information may place a person's life or safety in danger. If the division makes the determination that a person's life or safety may be in danger, the identifying information shall not be released. The division shall provide for a method for confirming or certifying that a designee is acting on behalf of a subject;
(3) Any alleged perpetrator named in the report, but the names of reporters shall not be furnished to persons in this category. Prior to the release of any identifying information, the division shall determine if the release of such identifying information may place a person's life or safety in danger. If the division makes the determination that a person's life or safety may be in danger, the identifying information shall not be released. However, the investigation reports will not be released to any alleged perpetrator with pending criminal charges arising out of the facts and circumstances named in the investigation records until an indictment is returned or an information filed;
(4) Any child fatality review panel established pursuant to section 210.192 or any state child fatality review panel established pursuant to section 210.195;
(5) Appropriate criminal justice agency personnel or juvenile officer;
(6) Multidisciplinary agency or individual including a physician or physician's designee who is providing services to the child or family, with the consent of the parent or guardian of the child or legal representative of the child;
(7) Any person engaged in bona fide research purpose, with the permission of the director; provided, however, that no information identifying the subjects of the reports or the reporters shall be made available to the researcher, unless the identifying information is essential to the research or evaluation and the subject, or if a child, through the child's parent or guardian, provides written permission.
4. Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this section, or who permits or encourages the unauthorized dissemination of information contained in the information system or the central registry and in reports and records made pursuant to sections 210.109 to 210.183, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
5. Nothing in this section shall preclude the release of findings or information about cases which resulted in a child fatality or near fatality. Such release is at the sole discretion of the director of the department of social services, based upon a review of the potential harm to other children within the immediate family.
(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 9, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1985 S.B. 401, A.L. 1986 H.B. 953, A.L. 1988 S.B. 719, A.L. 1991 H.B. 185, A.L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 1997 S.B. 358, A.L. 1999 S.B. 387, et al., A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.152. 1. All identifying information, including telephone reports reported pursuant to section 210.145, relating to reports of abuse or neglect received by the division shall be retained by the division and removed from the records of the division as follows:
(1) For investigation reports contained in the central registry, identifying information shall be retained by the division;
(2) (a) For investigation reports initiated against a person required to report pursuant to section 210.115, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division and where the division determines the allegation of abuse or neglect was made maliciously, for purposes of harassment or in retaliation for the filing of a report by a person required to report, identifying information shall be expunged by the division within forty-five days from the conclusion of the investigation;
(b) For investigation reports, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division and where the division determines the allegation of abuse or neglect was made maliciously, for purposes of harassment or in retaliation for the filing of a report, identifying information shall be expunged by the division within forty-five days from the conclusion of the investigation;
(c) For investigation reports initiated by a person required to report under section 210.115*, where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for five years from the conclusion of the investigation. For all other investigation reports where insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found by the division, identifying information shall be retained for two years from the conclusion of the investigation. Such reports shall include any exculpatory evidence known by the division, including exculpatory evidence obtained after the closing of the case. At the end of such time period, the identifying information shall be removed from the records of the division and destroyed;
(3) For reports where the division uses the family assessment and services approach, identifying information shall be retained by the division;
(4) For reports in which the division is unable to locate the child alleged to have been abused or neglected, identifying information shall be retained for ten years from the date of the report and then shall be removed from the records of the division.
2. Within ninety days after receipt of a report of abuse or neglect that is investigated, the alleged perpetrator named in the report and the parents of the child named in the report, if the alleged perpetrator is not a parent, shall be notified in writing of any determination made by the division based on the investigation. The notice shall advise either:
(1) That the division has determined by a probable cause finding prior to August 28, 2004, or by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, that abuse or neglect exists and that the division shall retain all identifying information regarding the abuse or neglect; that such information shall remain confidential and will not be released except to law enforcement agencies, prosecuting or circuit attorneys, or as provided in section 210.150; that the alleged perpetrator has sixty days from the date of receipt of the notice to seek reversal of the division's determination through a review by the child abuse and neglect review board as provided in subsection 3 of this section; or
(2) That the division has not made a probable cause finding or determined by a preponderance of the evidence that abuse or neglect exists.
3. Any person named in an investigation as a perpetrator who is aggrieved by a determination of abuse or neglect by the division as provided in this section may seek an administrative review by the child abuse and neglect review board pursuant to the provisions of section 210.153. Such request for review shall be made within sixty days of notification of the division's decision under this section. In those cases where criminal charges arising out of facts of the investigation are pending, the request for review shall be made within sixty days from the court's final disposition or dismissal of the charges.
4. In any such action for administrative review, the child abuse and neglect review board shall sustain the division's determination if such determination was supported by evidence of probable cause prior to August 28, 2004, or is supported by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, and is not against the weight of such evidence. The child abuse and neglect review board hearing shall be closed to all persons except the parties, their attorneys and those persons providing testimony on behalf of the parties.
5. If the alleged perpetrator is aggrieved by the decision of the child abuse and neglect review board, the alleged perpetrator may seek de novo judicial review in the circuit court in the county in which the alleged perpetrator resides and in circuits with split venue, in the venue in which the alleged perpetrator resides, or in Cole County. If the alleged perpetrator is not a resident of the state, proper venue shall be in Cole County. The case may be assigned to the family court division where such a division has been established. The request for a judicial review shall be made within sixty days of notification of the decision of the child abuse and neglect review board decision. In reviewing such decisions, the circuit court shall provide the alleged perpetrator the opportunity to appear and present testimony. The alleged perpetrator may subpoena any witnesses except the alleged victim or the reporter. However, the circuit court shall have the discretion to allow the parties to submit the case upon a stipulated record.
6. In any such action for administrative review, the child abuse and neglect review board shall notify the child or the parent, guardian or legal representative of the child that a review has been requested.
(L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1986 S.B. 470, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1370, et al., A.L. 1991 H.B. 185, A.L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453, A.L. 2005 S.B. 155)*Words "section 210.015" appear in original rolls, a typographical error.
(2007) Provisions of this section requiring inclusion in the central registry before a finding of abuse or neglect by a preponderance of the evidence by the child Abuse and Neglect Review Board violate due process, and are invalid. Jamison v. State, 218 S.W.3d 399 (Mo.banc).
210.153. 1. There is hereby created in the department of social services the "Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board", which shall provide an independent review of child abuse and neglect determinations in instances in which the alleged perpetrator is aggrieved by the decision of the children's division. The division may establish more than one board to assure timely review of the determination.
2. The board shall consist of nine members, who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, and shall include:
(1) A physician, nurse or other medical professional;
(2) A licensed child or family psychologist, counselor or social worker;
(3) An attorney who has acted as a guardian ad litem or other attorney who has represented a subject of a child abuse and neglect report;
(4) A representative from law enforcement or a juvenile office.
3. Other members of the board may be selected from:
(1) A person from another profession or field who has an interest in child abuse or neglect;
(2) A college or university professor or elementary or secondary teacher;
(3) A child advocate;
(4) A parent, foster parent or grandparent.
4. The following persons may participate in a child abuse and neglect review board review:
(1) Appropriate children's division staff and legal counsel for the department;
(2) The alleged perpetrator, who may be represented pro se or be represented by legal counsel. The alleged perpetrator's presence is not required for the review to be conducted. The alleged perpetrator may submit a written statement for the board's consideration in lieu of personal appearance; and
(3) Witnesses providing information on behalf of the child, the alleged perpetrator or the department. Witnesses shall only be allowed to attend that portion of the review in which they are presenting information.
5. The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall receive reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties.
6. All records and information compiled, obtained, prepared or maintained by the child abuse and neglect review board in the course of any review shall be confidential information.
7. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation of the child abuse and neglect review board except as otherwise provided for in this section. These rules and regulations shall, at a minimum, describe the length of terms, the selection of the chairperson, confidentiality, notification of parties and time frames for the completion of the review.
8. Findings of probable cause to suspect prior to August 28, 2004, or findings by a preponderance of the evidence after August 28, 2004, of child abuse and neglect by the division which are substantiated by court adjudication shall not be heard by the child abuse and neglect review board.
(L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453)
210.155. 1. The division shall, on a continuing basis, undertake and maintain programs to inform all persons required to report abuse or neglect pursuant to sections 210.110 to 210.165 and the public of the nature, problem, and extent of abuse and neglect, and of the remedial and therapeutic services available to children and their families; and to encourage self-reporting and the voluntary acceptance of such services. In addition, those mandated to report pursuant to this act shall be informed by the division of their duties, options, and responsibilities in accordance with this act.
2. The division shall conduct ongoing training programs in relation to sections 210.110 to 210.165 for agency staff.
3. The division shall continuously publicize to mandated reporters of abuse or neglect and to the public the existence and the number of the twenty-four hour, statewide toll free telephone service to receive reports of abuse or neglect.