Bill > H166

This bill aims to address the issue of substance-exposed newborns. It amends existing laws to clarify that the mere indication of prenatal substance use alone does not automatically meet the requirements for filing a child abuse or neglect report. Instead, a report must be filed only if the healthcare provider has reasonable cause to believe that the parent(s) will be unable to meet the basic needs of the infant upon discharge from the hospital, or if other factors indicate a substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare. The bill also requires healthcare providers to screen, intervene, and refer patients to treatment services to identify and respond to prenatal substance use. It mandates the development of "plans of safe care" to ensure the safety and well-being of substance-exposed infants upon their release from healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Public Health and the Department of Children and Families to collaborate on various data collection, reporting, and service provision efforts related to this issue, in compliance with the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Children and Families, Department of Public Health, and the Office of the Child Advocate to study the impact of these changes, including any disparate racial impact, and to report their findings to the legislature.