Bill > H0213

This bill proposes significant changes to Vermont's child abuse and neglect investigation processes, expanding the legal definitions and investigatory protocols. The legislation introduces a new definition of child torture, which includes knowingly inflicting serious bodily injury or severe emotional distress on a child, with potential prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of harm. The bill broadens the scope of investigations to include witnessing violence, domestic assaults, and crimes committed in a child's presence, and mandates collaboration with child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams. It also updates the criteria for when the Department of Children and Families must conduct a full investigation, now requiring investigations for substantial child endangerment scenarios such as sexual abuse, abandonment, child fatality, and abuse causing serious physical injury. Additionally, the bill requires sharing of certain reports with local child advocacy centers even if they do not meet initial investigation criteria, ensuring potential support and evaluation of child safety. The changes aim to provide more comprehensive protection for children by creating clearer standards for identifying and responding to potential child abuse and neglect, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.213