Bill > HB651

This bill directs the Department of Social Services, which is the state agency responsible for child welfare, to update its rules for Child Protective Services. Specifically, it mandates that when a report is received that triggers a "family assessment" – an investigation into potential child abuse or neglect – any face-to-face interviews with children under three years old who are believed to be victims must now happen within 24 hours of receiving that report. This is an expansion of an existing rule that currently only requires this prompt interview for children under two years old, aiming to ensure the safety of even younger children is assessed more quickly. The bill also states that the initial creation of these new regulations will be exempt from some standard administrative procedures, though the public will still have a chance to comment on them before they are finalized.

Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB651