Bill > SB642

This bill amends Pennsylvania's child protective services law to establish a more nuanced system for tracking and reporting child abuse incidents through a new "child protection tier" classification system. The bill creates three tiers of child abuse reports (Tier I, II, and III) based on the severity of the incident, with Tier I representing the most serious offenses like causing serious bodily injury, sexual abuse, or child trafficking. These tiers will now be included in the Statewide database and will determine how long a report remains visible on background checks for different types of positions involving children. For example, a Tier I report for someone applying for a position with direct child care responsibilities (Clearance Level 1) will be reportable indefinitely, while a Tier III report might only be reportable for three years. The bill also establishes clearer guidelines for when child abuse reports can impact employment opportunities, ensuring that the reporting and review process is more standardized and proportional to the nature of the reported incident. Additionally, the bill provides mechanisms for individuals to challenge the designated clearance level and ensures that certifications cannot require a higher clearance level than is necessary for a specific position.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=642