SB 17-028

Senate Bill 17-028, known as the Healthy Families and Military Preparedness Act, requires Colorado's human services department and local social service agencies to inform military command authorities about reports of child abuse or neglect involving members of the armed forces or their families living on a base. This bill aims to improve collaboration between civilian child welfare agencies and military installations to better address cases of child abuse or neglect among military personnel. The bill is now signed into law, meaning that these new procedures for information sharing are in effect and must be followed by relevant departments and military bases in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill requires the state department of human services (state department) and county departments of human or social services (county departments) to provide notice and to collect and share information with the command authority of national military installations regarding any report received of known or suspected instances of child abuse or neglect in which the person having custody or control of the child is a member of the armed forces or a spouse, or a significant other or family member residing in the home of the member of the armed forces assigned to that military installation. The state department and county departments may enter into memorandums of understanding with military installations establishing protocols for the sharing of information and for collaboration on the investigations into child abuse or neglect by a member of the armed forces or a spouse, or a significant other or family member residing in the home of the member of the armed forces. The state board of human services shall promulgate rules related to the collection and sharing of information. The bill allows designated authorities at the military base of assignment or installation for the member of the armed forces or a spouse, or a significant other or family member residing in the home of the member of the armed forces to have access to reports of child abuse or neglect. Reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect must include the military affiliation of any person who has custody or control of the child who is the subject of the investigation of child abuse or neglect, if such individual is a member of the armed forces or a spouse, or a significant other or family member residing in the home of the member of the armed forces. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Votes