Social services directors would review repeated dismissed child safety reports

Social services directors would personally review repeated reports screened out without an assessment. Report review would cover the same child or household. Separate provisions cover local government background checks and child advocacy centers. Three screened-out reports within six months or five within one year would require immediate referral. The director could not delegate review and would order an assessment if needed. Cities and counties could use outside vendors for the background checks covered by Section 6.1. The State Bureau of Investigation would set minimum requirements. Child advocacy center rules would include the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' human services department. Its tribal prosecutor could fill the prosecutor role on teams and receive covered records. These provisions would take effect when the bill becomes law. Vendor contracts would end no later than December 1, 2026, or the State Bureau of Investigation's contract award, whichever occurs later.

Courts would seal covered custody files and follow access rules for child welfare and adoption-contact records. Sealing would cover custody cases raising a child's physical or mental health, substance use, or abuse or mistreatment. Adoption-contact records concern agreements about contact after adoption. Custody parties, their lawyers, courts hearing or reviewing the case, and social services providing child protection could access sealed custody records. Others would need a court order for good cause. Children named in child welfare cases, including adults or legally independent minors, and their lawyers could access their records. Named parties, their lawyers, and county and state social services could also access them. Adopted people could access the separate adoption-contact case record at age 18 or after becoming legally independent. Earlier access would require a court order. Custody-file and adoption-contact provisions would apply to actions filed on or after October 1, 2026. The child welfare record-access provisions would take effect when the bill becomes law.

Courts would follow rules for permanent-home plans, ending parental rights, adoption-contact disputes, and removal from the child abuse responsibility list. District courts would handle placement on or removal from the list of people responsible for child abuse or serious neglect. Removal requests would be filed where the report arose, with a copy delivered to the director who identified the person. When returning a child to a parent is ruled out, courts would not have to pursue two permanent-home plans. A planning hearing would be due within 30 days after the initial hearing deciding the child's care. If ending parental rights is needed for the main or only permanent-home plan, social services would file within 60 calendar days of entry of the order. A court could set another deadline with written reasons. Parents under 16 would receive a separate court-appointed representative. Courts could appoint one for unmarried parents aged 16 or 17 who are not legally independent. Social services receiving a safely surrendered infant could seek to end parental rights. Orders changing, enforcing, or ending adoption-contact agreements could not be appealed, but contempt orders could be appealed. Part III's planning and adoption-contact provisions would apply to actions filed on or after October 1, 2026. The representation, safely surrendered infant, and responsibility-list provisions would take effect when the bill becomes law.

Courts and social services would follow rules for sibling placements, custody outside detention, guardians, and transfers between counties. Sibling rules cover children removed into social services custody. Other placement and guardian rules cover youth in cases involving offenses or behavior problems. County transfers require agreement on support and services or a state decision or assignment. Social services would make reasonable efforts to place siblings together or maintain frequent contact, unless documented safety or well-being concerns prevent it. For covered youth placed outside detention, courts would first consider willing and able relatives. A suitable relative would receive placement unless it conflicts with the child's best interests. Placement in an unlicensed facility, or one not licensed to care for children, would require prior court approval in the placement order. Courts could appoint a guardian when no parent or caretaker appears with the child or when it serves the child's best interests. Social services could not serve as that guardian. Sibling and county-transfer provisions would apply to actions filed on or after October 1, 2026. Part V's placement and guardianship provisions would take effect when the bill becomes law.

The state would set aside $250,000 each year for a secure website and mobile communication platform for child welfare cases. General Fund money would support abuse, neglect, and dependency cases and related proceedings to end parental rights. Dependency cases concern children who need care their parents cannot provide. The Administrative Office of the Courts' Office of Indigent Services would contract with an approved vendor. The platform would send advance hearing and agency-meeting notices to parties, lawyers, caregivers, and others designated by the court. Court and social services agencies would enter a data-sharing agreement so the vendor could send accurate notices and support communication among lawyers, clients, and parties. The funding provision would take effect July 1, 2026, beginning in the 2026–2027 budget year. The vendor contract would be due no later than October 1, 2026.