(Effective July 1, 2027) Conflict of interest when local department employee is alleged abuser; duties of court when assigning valid complaint

If an employee of the local department is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child, the complaint shall be made to the Department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. If the complaint is determined valid, the Department shall forward the valid complaint to the court of the county or city where the abuse or neglect occurred or where the victim child resides. Upon receipt of a valid complaint by the court, the judge shall assign the complaint to a local department that is not the employer of the suspected employee for an investigation or family assessment or, if the judge believes that no local department in a reasonable geographic distance can be impartial in responding to the reported case, the judge shall assign the report to the court service unit of his court for evaluation. The judge may consult with the Department in selecting a local department to respond to the complaint.

2026, cc. 865 , 900 .