At-risk children: registration of birth: notification to child protective services.

Existing law prescribes the duties of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics and local registrars of births and deaths with respect to the registration of a live birth. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement a Statewide Child Welfare Services Case Management System (CWSCMS) in order to protect children and effectively administer and evaluate California's Child Welfare Services and foster care programs. This bill would require the State Registrar, upon receipt of the weekly transmission of original certificates from a local registrar, to enter the name of each parent listed on a certificate of live birth into the CWSCMS, and to forward to the appropriate child protective services department the name of a parent who has had his or her parental rights terminated due to abuse or neglect, as specified. The bill would require a county child protective services department to conduct an immediate investigation upon receipt of a name forwarded by the State Registrar pursuant to the bill. By increasing the duties of county child protective services departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.