Title 23, DOMESTIC RELATIONS

(a) Establishment.--Every county agency shall make available child protective services within the agency. The department may waive the requirement that a county agency be the sole civil agency for receipt and investigation of reports pursuant to section 6362 (relating to responsi…

(a) General rule.--The county agency shall be the sole civil agency responsible for receiving and investigating all reports of child abuse made pursuant to this chapter, specifically including, but not limited to, reports of child abuse in facilities operated by the department an…

The county agency shall include provisions for protective services in its annual plan as required by the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code. (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995) References in Text. The short title of the act of …

Any other provision of law notwithstanding but consistent with sections 6361 (relating to organization for child protective services) and 6362 (relating to responsibilities of county agency for child protective services), the county agency, based upon the plan of services as prov…

(a) Instruction and education.--Each county agency shall make available among its services for the prevention and treatment of child abuse instruction and education for parenthood and parenting skills, protective and preventive social counseling, outreach and counseling services …

Each county agency shall receive 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all reports, both oral and written, of suspected child abuse in accordance with this chapter, the county plan for the provision of child protective services and the regulations of the department. (Dec. 16, 1994, …

(a) Reports to department.--Upon the receipt of each report of suspected child abuse made pursuant to this chapter, the county agency shall immediately transmit a child abuse report summary as provided in section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure) to the department. Supplemen…

(a) Response to direct reports.--Upon receipt of a report of suspected child abuse by a perpetrator from an individual, the county agency shall ensure the safety of the child and any other child in the child's home and immediately contact the department in accordance with the pro…

2014 Repeal. Section 6369 was repealed April 15, 2014, P.L.417, No.33, effective December 31, 2014.

(a) General rule.--Based on the investigation and evaluation conducted pursuant to this chapter, the county agency shall provide or contract with private or public agencies for the protection of the child at home whenever possible and those services necessary for adequate care of…

The county agency shall provide or arrange for and monitor rehabilitative services for children and their families on a voluntary basis or under a final or intermediate order of the court. (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995)

The county agency shall be as equally vigilant of the status, well-being and conditions under which a child is living and being maintained in a facility other than that of a parent, custodian or guardian from which the child has been removed as the service is of the conditions in…

(a) Program objectives.--Each county agency is responsible for administering a program of general protective services to children and youth that is consistent with the agency's objectives to: (1) Keep children in their own homes, whenever possible. (2) Prevent abuse, neglect and …

(a) Primary purpose.--The primary purpose of general protective services is to protect the rights and welfare of children so that they have an opportunity for healthy growth and development. (b) Assistance to parents.--Implicit in the county agency's protection of children is ass…

(a) Duties of county agency.--The county agency shall make available a program of general protective services within each agency. The county agency shall perform those functions assigned by this chapter and others that would further the purposes of this chapter. It shall have suf…

(a) Right to appeal.--A custodial parent or person who has primary responsibility for the welfare of a child may appeal the county agency's decision to accept the family for services. Written notice of this right, along with an explanation of the agency's decision, shall be given…

The department by regulation shall set forth staff-to-family ratios for general protective services. (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1997) 1994 Amendment. Act 151 added section 6377.

Except for the receipt and assessment of reports alleging a need for protective services, the county agency may purchase and utilize the services of any appropriate public or private agency. The department shall promulgate regulations establishing standards and qualifications of …

(a) General rule.--In addition to the rules of evidence provided under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters), the rules of evidence in this section shall govern in child abuse proceedings in court or in any department administrative hearing pursuant to section 6341 (re…

2000 Repeal. Section 6382 was repealed May 10, 2000, P.L.74, No.18, effective in 60 days.

(a) Duties of department and county agencies.--The department and each county agency, both jointly and individually, shall conduct a continuing publicity and education program for the citizens of this Commonwealth aimed at the prevention of child abuse and child neglect, includin…

A committee of the Senate designated by the President pro tempore of the Senate and a committee of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, either jointly or separately, shall review the manner in which this chapter has been administ…

The department shall certify in accordance with the needs-based budgeting provisions of Article VII of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, a level of funds sufficient to meet the cost of services required by the provisions of this chapter w…

(a) Notification to department.--For the purpose of assessing a child and the child's family for a plan of safe care, a health care provider shall immediately give notice or cause notice to be given to the department if the provider is involved in the delivery or care of a child …

(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the following shall apply to any individual required to obtain recertification under section 6344.4 (relating to recertification) during the disaster emergency relating to COVID-19. The following shall apply…

(a) Establishment.--The Task Force on Child Pornography is established. (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the task force is to conduct a review to ascertain any inadequacies relating to the offense of child pornography in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6312 (relating to sexual abuse of children). (c) C…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Newborn Protection Act.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Child abuse." Child abuse as defined in section 6303(b) (relating to definitions). "County agency" or "agency." County …

A parent of a newborn shall not be criminally liable under any provision of Title 18 (relating to crimes and offenses) if the criteria set forth in 18 Pa.C.S § 4306 (relating to newborn protection) are met.

(a) General rule.--A health care provider at a hospital shall do all of the following relating to a newborn accepted under this chapter: (1) Take the newborn into protective custody as provided in section 6315(a)(3) (relating to taking child into protective custody) or 6504.1(a)(…

(a) Duties.--A police officer at a police station shall do all of the following relating to a newborn accepted under this chapter: (1) Take the newborn into protective custody under section 6315(a)(5) (relating to taking child into protective custody). (2) Ensure the newborn is t…

(a) Duties.--In accepting a newborn under this chapter, an emergency services provider shall: (1) take the newborn into protective custody as specified under section 6315(a)(6) (relating to taking child into protective custody); and (2) ensure the newborn is transported to a hosp…

(a) Provision optional.--A hospital, police station, urgent care center or entity employing or otherwise providing access to an emergency services provider may provide an incubator for the care of a newborn accepted under this chapter. (b) Regulations.--The Department of Health s…

(a) Duties.--A health care provider at an urgent care center shall do all of the following relating to a newborn accepted under this chapter: (1) Take the newborn into protective custody under section 6315(a)(7) (relating to taking child into protective custody). (2) Ensure that …

A health care provider at a hospital shall in all cases notify the county agency and the local municipal police department or the Pennsylvania State Police where no municipal police jurisdiction exists immediately by telephone regarding a newborn accepted by a hospital under this…

A health care provider at a hospital who intentionally or knowingly fails to report the acceptance by a hospital of a newborn as required by this chapter commits a summary offense. A second or subsequent failure to report such acceptance is a misdemeanor of the third degree. Cros…

Except for a violation of section 6506 (relating to failure to report acceptance of newborns), no emergency services provider, entity that employs or otherwise provides access to an emergency services provider, hospital, urgent care center, health care provider at a hospital or u…

Each hospital and urgent care center shall ensure that its officers, health care providers and employees are familiar with the provisions of this chapter, section 6315(a) (relating to taking child into protective custody) and other applicable provisions of Chapter 63 (relating to…

The department shall provide educational materials for use by emergency services providers, entities which employ or otherwise provide access to emergency services providers, hospitals, urgent care centers, health care providers, employees at hospitals and police officers regardi…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality Act.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Actual address." A residential address, school address or work address of an individual. "Law enforcement agency." A po…

(a) Establishment.--The Office of Victim Advocate shall establish a program to be known as the Address Confidentiality Program. Upon application and certification, persons eligible under section 6704 (relating to persons eligible to apply) shall receive a confidential substitute …

The following persons shall be eligible to apply to become program participants: (1) A victim of domestic violence who files an affidavit with the Office of Victim Advocate stating the affiant's eligibility for a protection from abuse order and further stating that the affiant fe…

(a) General rule.--A person must file an application with the Office of Victim Advocate on a form prescribed by the Office of Victim Advocate. An application and any supporting documentation may be filed electronically, by mail or in person. The Office of Victim Advocate shall ce…

(a) Cancellation.--The Office of Victim Advocate shall cancel the certification of a program participant if: (1) the program participant willingly provided false information on any portion of the application; (2) the program participant failed to notify the Office of Victim Advoc…

State and local government agencies shall accept the substitute address designated on a valid program participation card issued to the program participant by the Office of Victim Advocate as the program participant's address except as follows: (1) when the State or local governme…