Pennsylvania 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 938 — An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for disposition and expunction of unfounded reports and general protective services reports.

Last action — Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

56 added · 63 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill SB 938 extend the time that reports related to child welfare will be kept in the Statewide database from five years to ten years, or until the child turns 23, whichever happens first. This means that information about these reports will remain accessible for a longer period, which could help authorities better monitor and support at-risk children. Additionally, the focus has shifted from just the youngest child to all children involved in the report, ensuring that the age of any affected child is considered in how long the information is retained. This change could lead to improved child safety and welfare outcomes.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
1347 PRINTER'S NO.
1347 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1380 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
938 2017 INTRODUCED BY SABATINA, VULAKOVICH, SCARNATI, MARTIN, RAFFERTY, RESCHENTHALER AND COSTA, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 AN ACT Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for disposition and expunction of unfounded reports and general protective services reports.
938 2017 INTRODUCED BY SABATINA, VULAKOVICH, SCARNATI, MARTIN, RAFFERTY, RESCHENTHALER, COSTA, BAKER, SCHWANK AND MENSCH, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 SENATOR BAKER, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 12, 2017 AN ACT Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for disposition and expunction of unfounded reports and general protective services reports.
The reports shall be maintained for a period of [five] 10 years[.] or until the YOUNGEST <-- child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
The reports shall be maintained for a period of [five] 10 years[.] or until the child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
Following the expiration of [five] 10 years after the date the report was received by the department or until the YOUNGEST child who is the subject of <-- the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first, the report shall be expunged from the Statewide database as soon as possible, but no later than 120 days after the [five- year] 10-year period following the date the report was received by the department[.] or 120 days after the YOUNGEST <-- child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
Following the expiration of [five] 10 years after the date the report was received by the department or until the child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first, the report shall be expunged from the Statewide database as soon as possible, but no later than 120 days after the [five-year] 10-year period following the date the report was received by the department[.] or 120 days after the child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
(2) Reports that are assessed by the county agency and accepted for services shall be reported to the department, <-- EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (F)(2), and entered into the Statewide database.
(2) Reports that are assessed by the county agency and accepted for services shall be reported to the department and entered into the Statewide database.
The reports shall be maintained for a period of [five] 10 years after the closure of services by the county agency[.] or until the YOUNGEST <-- child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
The reports shall be maintained for a period of [five] 10 years after the closure of services by the county agency[.] or until the child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
Following the expiration of [five] 10 years after the closure of services by the county agency or until the YOUNGEST child who is the subject of the <-- report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first, the report shall be expunged from the Statewide database as soon as possible, but no later than 120 days after the [five-year] 10-year period following the closure of services by the county agency[.] or 120 days after the YOUNGEST child who is <-- the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
Following the expiration of [five] 10 years after the closure of services by the county agency or until the child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first, the report shall be expunged from the Statewide database as soon as possible, but no later than 120 days after the [five-year] 10-year period following the closure of services by the county agency[.] or 120 days after the child who is the subject of the report attains 23 years of age, whichever occurs first.
20170SB0938PN1380 - 2 - (3) The expunction of information on general protective services under this subsection shall be mandated and guaranteed by the department.
(3) The expunction of information on general protective services under this subsection shall be mandated and guaranteed by the department.
* * * (f) County agency records.--Information concerning protective services reports shall be maintained by a county agency as follows:
20170SB0938PN1347 - 2 - * * * (f) County agency records.--Information concerning protective services reports shall be maintained by a county agency as follows:
(1) County agency records of protective services shall be used and maintained in a manner that is consistent with the use and maintenance of information in the Statewide database, as provided under this chapter, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE <-- PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2).
(1) County agency records of protective services shall be used and maintained in a manner that is consistent with the use and maintenance of information in the Statewide database, as provided under this chapter.
(2) A county agency may maintain information regarding protective services reports that have been expunged in the Statewide database on the county agency's database solely for <-- internal access by the county agency.
(2) A county agency may maintain information regarding protective services reports that have been expunged in the Statewide database on the county agency's database solely for internal access by the county agency.
FOR ACCESS BY THE COUNTY <-- AGENCY TO ASSIST IN FUTURE RISK AND SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND RESEARCH.
20170SB0938PN1380 - 3 -
20170SB0938PN1347 - 3 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

  2. First consideration

  3. PN 1380 Reported as amended

  4. PN 1347 Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Sabatina

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (241)

241 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Committee vote (HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES): Reported as Amended

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4000
Republican 4000
Democratic 4000
Total 12000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (12)
Member Party Vote
AUMENT — Yea
BROWNE — Yea
MENSCH — Yea
SCARNATI — Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Michele Brooks Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 938?
SB 938 is sponsored by Mensch, Rafferty, Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Scott Martin (Republican), Reschenthaler, Sabatina, Scarnati, Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Vulakovich, Yudichak, Lisa Baker (Republican), and Jay Costa (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 938?
This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 938?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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