Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide for notification to a local law enforcement agency when a report of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect is made to the Department of Health and Welfare.

In Idaho, local law enforcement and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Idaho H&W) have different but vital roles when investigating and resolving complaints of child abuse. Idaho Code requires when a person makes a report of child abuse to law enforcement, that the law enforcement agency notify Idaho H&W of the reported abuse. However, there is no reciprocal requirement in Idaho Code for Idaho H&W to notify law enforcement when they are notified and law enforcement is not. This failure to send information from Idaho H&W to law enforcement means serious child abuse investigations may be delayed or even missed completely in some jurisdictions which creates a danger for Idaho’s abused children.

Adds to existing law to require a notification of rights to parents or other concerned persons during an investigation of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

This legislation amends Idaho Code to provide for the notification of parents or guardians of their legal rights with respect to child protection investigations.