HB1116: Child abuse and neglect; valid complaint.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1116
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 63.2-1508 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 63.2-1508. Valid report or complaint.
A. A valid report or complaint means the local department has
evaluated the information and allegations of the report or complaint and
determined that the local department shall conduct an investigation or,
family assessment, or human trafficking assessment
because the following elements are present:
1. The alleged victim child or children are under 18 years of age at the time of the complaint or report;
2. The alleged abuser is the alleged victim child's parent
or other caretaker;
3. The local department receiving the
complaint or report has jurisdiction; and
4. 3. The
circumstances described allege suspected child abuse or neglect.
B. A valid report or complaint regarding a child who has
been identified as a victim of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking
as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C
§ 7102 et seq.) and in the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015
(P.L. 114-22) may be established if the
regardless of whether an alleged abuser is the alleged victim child's
parent, other caretaker, or any other person suspected to have caused such abuse
or neglect has been identified.
C. Nothing in this section shall relieve any person specified in § 63.2-1509 from making a report required by that section, regardless of the identity of the person suspected to have caused such abuse or neglect.
D. If the local department receiving the complaint or report does not have jurisdiction and the local department that has jurisdiction to investigate such complaint or report is located in the Commonwealth, the local department that received the report or complaint shall forward the complaint or report to the appropriate local department.