NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 786

HOUSE BILL 514

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT LAWS TO PROVIDE FOR MANDATORY NOTIFICATION OF REPORTER AFTER INVESTIGATION, PROFESSIONAL REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR STAFF OF DAY-CARE CENTERS, COURT REVIEW OF DECISIONS TO RETURN CHILDREN TO PARENTS, AND FOR A STATEWIDE PROTECTIVE SERVICES PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 110-117(5) is hereby amended by inserting the words "or the director or staff person of a licensed day-care center" at the end of the sentence.

Sec. 2.  G.S. 110-119(1) is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Unless he for good cause determines such notification to be harmful, the director shall notify the person making the report of knowledge or suspicion that a child is abused or neglected within two working days after initiating the investigation that (1) there is no finding of abuse or neglect or that (2) the department is taking action to protect the welfare of the child; provided, no notification is required when said person fails to identify himself or herself to the director."

Sec. 3.  G.S. 7A-286(2) is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph at the end thereof:

"In any case where the court removes custody from a parent or person standing in loco parentis because of abuse or neglect, the child shall not be returned to said parent or person standing in loco parentis unless the court finds sufficient facts to show that the child will receive proper care and supervision."

Sec. 4.  Chapter 110 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new G.S. 110‑123, to read as follows:

"§ 110-123.  Protective Services Plan. — The Department of Human Resources shall submit to the Governor and General Assembly by January 16, 1979, the department's plan pursuant to prevention, identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The plan shall include a full assessment of the scope, nature and extent of the problem, goals and objectives, program and administrative strategies, existing and needed resources, and proposals for any statutory amendments to Chapter 110, Article 8, 'Child Abuse and Neglect'. The department's plan shall be developed in conjunction with appropriate divisions within the department, other State agencies and organizations outside the department and with appropriate local community agencies, organizations and citizens concerned with child abuse and neglect. The plan shall delineate the role and responsibility of departmental staff, other professional and lay persons in implementation of the department's plan."

Sec. 5.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 29th day of June, 1977.