Child abuse or neglect reports.

Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, requires a mandated reporter to report whenever they know or reasonably suspect that a child has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Existing law also authorizes any other person to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect. Under existing law, reports of suspected child abuse or neglect are made to any police department, sheriff's department, county probation department, if designated by the county to receive mandated reports, or county welfare department. This bill would require a county child welfare services department that receives a report of a child being endangered by abuse, neglect, or exploitation in which the alleged perpetrator is a person responsible for the child, as specified, to evaluate the report immediately and if the report contains sufficient information to warrant an investigation, require the department to make its best effort to commence an investigation of an allegation of imminent risk of physical harm to the child within 2 hours, but no later than 72 hours after receiving any report. The bill would require the department to conduct an in-home visit no later than 72 hours after receiving the report to determine if the child needs to be removed from the home during the pendency of the investigation, and would require the investigation to be completed within 30 business days of the initial report. By imposing additional duties on local agencies investigating reports of child abuse or neglect, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.