CHILDREN-TECH

This bill amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to provide safety protections for child welfare caseworkers who face credible threats of violence from parents or guardians. Under the new provisions, a caseworker who feels threatened during a home visit can request that law enforcement officers accompany them on future visits or ask to have the case reassigned to a different worker. The law defines a credible threat as any statement or behavior that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their own safety or the safety of others. Additionally, the bill requires law enforcement to make reasonable efforts to coordinate with police in other jurisdictions to assist with these safety escorts.