SB316:

Juvenile records; identification of children receiving coordinated services.

Bill Summary:

Juvenile records; identification of children receiving coordinated services. Provides that, for the purpose of disclosing records, information, and statistical registries of the Department of Social Services, local departments of social services, and all child-welfare agencies concerning social services, a person having a legitimate interest in child-protective services records includes the staff of (i) a court services unit, (ii) the Department of Juvenile Justice, (iii) a local community services board, or (iv) the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services who are providing treatment, services, or care for a child who is the subject of such records for a purpose relevant to the provision of the treatment, services, or care when the local agencies have entered into a formal agreement with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide coordinated services to such children. The bill provides that such formal agreements may allow the local agencies and the Department of Juvenile Justice to immediately identify children who may be receiving or who have received treatment, services, or care from the local agencies and the Department of Juvenile Justice. The bill also provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice shall develop and biennially update a model memorandum of understanding setting forth the respective roles and responsibilities of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Social Services, the court service units, the local departments of social services, and the community services boards or behavioral health authorities regarding the sharing of information derived from juvenile records for purposes of identifying juveniles who may be receiving or who have received treatment, services, or care from the local agencies, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The bill provides that the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Department of Juvenile Justice may satisfy the requirement for a formal agreement, but it shall be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General before such agreement takes effect. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Youth. This bill is identical to HB 733.