RSSChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Amendment
BILL 19-466, THE “CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011”
Councilmember Jim Graham, Chair of the Committee on Human Services, announces a Public Hearing on Bill 19-466, the “Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Amendment Act of 2011.” The hearing will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Room 500, of the John A. Wilson Building.
Bill 19-466 would amend the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Act of 1977 to conform to the requirement of the federal Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act Reauthorization Act of 2010 (“CAPTA Reauthorization Act”). The proposed legislation would make the following changes:
• Not require the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to make reasonable efforts to reunify or preserve the family if a parent has committed certain crimes against a child or if the parent must register with a sex offender registry;
• Require health care professionals to notify the CFSA when a child under 12 months of age is diagnosed with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD); and
• Expand and clarify the definition of neglect to include an infant that has been diagnosed with FASD.
Those who wish to testify should register online or contact Mr. Malcolm Cameron of the Committee on Human Services by e-mail at mcameron@dccouncil.us or by telephone at (202) 724-8191 by Thursday, January 12, 2012. E-mail contacts to Mr. Cameron should include the residential ward, full name, title, and affiliation -- if applicable -- of the person(s) testifying. Witnesses should bring 15 copies of their written testimony to the hearing. Individuals will be permitted 3 minutes for oral presentation -- individuals representing organizations or groups will be permitted 5 minutes.
If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Secretary to the Council, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 5, Washington, D.C. 20004, no later than 5:30 p.m., Friday, January 20, 2012. The record will close at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012
