Bill > HB329

This bill amends existing Kentucky law (KRS 620.030) to establish clearer record-keeping and process requirements for reports of alleged child dependency, neglect, or abuse. Specifically, it mandates that entities receiving such reports must retain all information, inform individuals making oral reports that their identity will be kept confidential and that making false reports is a penalty, and gather specific facts and sources related to the suspicion of abuse or neglect. For reports involving licensed facilities, the bill requires obtaining the reporter's name, contact information, and relationship to the facility. Additionally, it clarifies that individuals are not obligated to report potential harm to a child if they reasonably believe it is not a result of dependency, neglect, or abuse, while also reinforcing penalties for intentionally violating reporting requirements. The bill also expands the operating hours of the statewide child abuse hotline to be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb329.html