reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
23 PA Cons Stat § 6316 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6316 - Admission to private and public hospitals

§ 6316. Admission to private and public hospitals. (a) General rule.--Children appearing to suffer any physical or mental condition which may constitute child abuse shall be admitted to, treated and maintained in facilities of private and public hospitals on the basis of medical need and shall not be refused or deprived in any way of proper medical treatment and care.  (a.1) Newborns.--A newborn taken into protective custody pursuant to section 6315(a)(3) or (5) (relating to taking child into protective custody) shall be admitted to, treated and maintained in facilities of public and private hospitals on the basis of medical need and shall not be refused or deprived in any way of proper medical treatment and care. Once a newborn is taken into protective custody pursuant to section 6315(a)(3) or (5), the newborn shall be considered immediately eligible for Medicaid for payment of medical services provided. Until otherwise provided by court order, the county agency shall assume the responsibility for making decisions regarding the newborn's medical care.  (b) Failure of hospital to admit child or newborn.--The failure of a hospital to admit and properly treat and care for a child pursuant to subsection (a) or (a.1) shall be cause for the department to order immediate admittance, treatment and care by the hospital which shall be enforceable, if necessary, by the prompt institution of a civil action by the department. The child, through an attorney, shall also have the additional and independent right to seek immediate injunctive relief and institute an appropriate civil action for damages against the hospital.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1549, No.201, eff. 60 days; July 2, 2014, P.L.843, No.91, eff. 60 days)    2014 Amendment. Act 91 amended subsec. (a.1).  2002 Amendment. Act 201 amended subsec. (b) and added subsec. (a.1).  Cross References. Section 6316 is referred to in sections 6313, 6318 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6317 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6317 - Mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths

§ 6317. Mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths. A person or official required to report cases of suspected child abuse, including employees of a county agency, who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child died as a result of child abuse shall report that suspicion to the appropriate coroner or medical examiner. The coroner or medical examiner shall accept the report for investigation and shall report his finding to the police, the district attorney, the appropriate county agency and, if the report is made by a hospital, the hospital.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)    Cross References. Section 6317 is referred to in sections 6313, 6318, 6367 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6318 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6318 - Immunity from liability

§ 6318. Immunity from liability. (a) General rule.--A person, hospital, institution, school, facility, agency or agency employee acting in good faith shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability that might otherwise result from any of the following:  (1) Making a report of suspected child abuse or making a referral for general protective services, regardless of whether the report is required to be made under this chapter.  (2) Cooperating or consulting with an investigation under this chapter, including providing information to a child fatality or near-fatality review team.  (3) Testifying in a proceeding arising out of an instance of suspected child abuse or general protective services.  (4) Engaging in any action authorized under section 6314 (relating to photographs, medical tests and X-rays of child subject to report), 6315 (relating to taking child into protective custody), 6316 (relating to admission to private and public hospitals) or 6317 (relating to mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths).  (b) Departmental and county agency immunity.--An official or employee of the department or county agency who refers a report of suspected child abuse for general protective services to law enforcement authorities or provides services as authorized by this chapter shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability that might otherwise result from the action.  (c) Presumption of good faith.--For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required to report pursuant to section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse) and of any person required to make a referral to law enforcement officers under this chapter shall be presumed.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Nov. 29, 2006, P.L.1581, No.179, eff. 60 days; July 3, 2008, P.L.276, No.33, eff. 180 days; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1201, No.119, eff. July 1, 2014)
23 PA Cons Stat § 6319 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6319 - Penalties

§ 6319. Penalties. (a) Failure to report or refer.-- (1) A person or official required by this chapter to report a case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral to the appropriate authorities commits an offense if the person or official willfully fails to do so.  (2) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if: (i) the person or official willfully fails to report; (ii) the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher; and (iii) the person or official has direct knowledge of the nature of the abuse. (3) An offense not otherwise specified in paragraph (2) is a misdemeanor of the second degree.  (4) A report of suspected child abuse to law enforcement or the appropriate county agency by a mandated reporter, made in lieu of a report to the department, shall not constitute an offense under this subsection, provided that the report was made in a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of this chapter.  (b) Continuing course of action.--If a person's willful failure under this section to report an individual suspected of child abuse continues while the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect a child is being subjected to child abuse by the same individual, or while the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the same individual continues to have direct contact with children through the individual's employment, program, activity or service, the person commits a felony of the third degree, except that if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the person commits a felony of the second degree.  (c) Multiple offenses.--A person who, at the time of sentencing for an offense under this section, has been convicted of a prior offense under this section commits a felony of the third degree, except that if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the penalty for the second or subsequent offenses is a felony of the second degree.  (d) Statute of limitations.--The statute of limitations for an offense under this section shall be either the statute of limitations for the crime committed against the minor child or five years, whichever is greater.  (Nov. 29, 2006, P.L.1581, No.179, eff. 180 days; Apr. 15, 2014, P.L.414, No.32, eff. 60 days; Nov. 26, 2019, P.L.648, No.88, eff. 60 days)    2019 Amendment. Act 88 amended subsecs. (b), (c) and (d).  Effective Date. Section 17 of Act 45 of 2014 provided that, notwithstanding section 4 of Act 32 of 2014, the amendment of section 6319 shall take effect December 31, 2014.  Cross References. Section 6319 is referred to in sections 6320, 6335 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6320 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6320 - Protection from employment discrimination

§ 6320. Protection from employment discrimination. (a) Basis for relief.--A person may commence an action for appropriate relief if all of the following apply:  (1) The person is required to report under section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse) or encouraged to report under section 6312 (relating to persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse).  (2) The person acted in good faith in making or causing the report of suspected child abuse to be made.  (3) As a result of making the report of suspected child abuse, the person is discharged from employment or is discriminated against with respect to compensation, hire, tenure, terms, conditions or privileges of employment.  (b) Applicability.--This section does not apply to an individual making a report of suspected child abuse who is found to be a perpetrator because of the report or to any individual who fails to make a report of suspected child abuse as required under section 6311 and is subject to conviction under section 6319 (relating to penalties) for failure to report or to refer.  (c) Location.--An action under this section must be filed in the court of common pleas of the county in which the alleged unlawful discharge or discrimination occurred.  (d) Relief.--Upon a finding in favor of the plaintiff, the court may grant appropriate relief, which may include reinstatement of the plaintiff with back pay.  (e) Departmental intervention.--The department may intervene in an action commenced under this section.  (Apr. 15, 2014, P.L.425, No.34, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)   2014 Amendment. Act 34 added section 6320.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6331 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6331 - Establishment of Statewide database

§ 6331. Establishment of Statewide database. There shall be established in the department a Statewide database of protective services, which shall include the following, as provided by section 6336 (relating to information in Statewide database):  (1) Reports of suspected child abuse pending investigation. (2) Reports with a status of pending juvenile court or pending criminal court action. (3) Indicated and founded reports of child abuse. (4) Unfounded reports of child abuse awaiting expunction. (5) Unfounded reports accepted for services. (6) Reports alleging the need for general protective services. (7) General protective services reports that have been determined to be valid. (8) Reports alleging the need for general protective services that have been determined invalid and are awaiting expunction.  (9) A family case record for all reports accepted for investigation, assessment or services. (10) Information on reports made to the agency, but not accepted for investigation or assessment. (11) False reports of child abuse pursuant to a conviction under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4906.1 (relating to false reports of child abuse) for the purpose of identifying and tracking patterns of intentionally false reports.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1201, No.119, eff. July 1, 2014; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014; May 14, 2014, P.L.653, No.45, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)    2014 Amendments. Act 29 amended the entire section and Act 45 amended par. (11).  Cross References. Section 6331 is referred to in section 6334 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6333 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6333 - Continuous availability of department

§ 6333. Continuous availability of department. The department shall be capable of receiving oral reports of child abuse, reports of children in need of general protective services, reports made by electronic technologies pursuant to this chapter and report summaries from county agencies. The department shall be capable of immediately identifying prior reports in the Statewide database and reports under investigation with a pending status and of monitoring the provision of child protective services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)
23 PA Cons Stat § 6334.1 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6334.1 - Responsibility for investigation

§ 6334.1. Responsibility for investigation. The department shall establish procedures regarding the following different responses to address suspected child abuse and protective services depending on the person's allegedly committing the suspected child abuse or causing a child to be in need of protective services:  (1) If the suspected child abuse is alleged to have been committed by a perpetrator, the appropriate county agency shall investigate the allegation as provided in this chapter.  (2) If the suspected child abuse is alleged to have been committed by a perpetrator and the behavior constituting the suspected child abuse may include a violation of a criminal offense, the appropriate county agency and law enforcement officials shall jointly investigate the allegation through the investigative team established in section 6365(c) (relating to services for prevention, investigation and treatment of child abuse) and as provided in this chapter.  (3) If the suspected child abuse is alleged to have been committed by a person who is not a perpetrator and the behavior constituting the suspected child abuse may include a violation of a criminal offense, law enforcement officials where the suspected child abuse is alleged to have occurred shall be solely responsible for investigating the allegation.  (4) If a child is alleged to be in need of other protective services, the appropriate county agency shall assess the needs of the child as provided in this chapter.  (Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)   2014 Amendment. Act 29 added section 6334.1.  Cross References. Section 6334.1 is referred to in section 6340 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6338 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6338 - Disposition of founded and indicated reports

§ 6338. Disposition of founded and indicated reports. (a) General rule.--When a report of suspected child abuse is determined by the appropriate county agency to be a founded report or an indicated report, the status of the report shall be changed from pending to founded or indicated in the Statewide database. Notice of the determination that a report is a founded, indicated or unfounded report shall be made as provided in section 6368(f) (relating to investigation of reports).  (b) Expunction of information when child attains 23 years of age.--Except as provided in subsection (c), all information which identifies the subjects of founded and indicated child abuse reports shall be expunged when the subject child reaches the age of 23. The expunction shall be mandated and guaranteed by the department.  (c) Retention of information.--The Statewide database shall indefinitely retain the names of perpetrators of child abuse and school employees who are subjects of founded or indicated reports only if the individual's Social Security number or date of birth is known to the department. The entry in the Statewide database shall not include identifying information regarding other subjects of the report.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1170, No.108, eff. Dec. 31, 2014; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014; May 14, 2014, P.L.653, No.45, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)    2014 Amendments. Act 29 amended subsecs. (a) and (c) and Act 45 amended subsec. (a).  Cross References. Section 6338 is referred to in section 6349 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6339 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6339 - Confidentiality of reports

§ 6339. Confidentiality of reports. Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter or by the Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure, reports made pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, report summaries of child abuse and reports made pursuant to section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure) as well as any other information obtained, reports written or photographs or X-rays taken concerning alleged instances of child abuse in the possession of the department or a county agency shall be confidential.  (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014; Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2529, No.153, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)    Suspension by Court Rule. Section 6339 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Juvenile Court Procedure No. 1800(9), adopted August 21, 2006, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule 1340(B)(1)(e), which provides for the disclosure of reports if the reports are going to be used as evidence in a hearing to prove dependency of a child.  Cross References. Section 6339 is referred to in sections 6340, 6341, 6365 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6340.1 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6340.1 - Exchange of information

§ 6340.1. Exchange of information. (a) Certified medical practitioners.--In circumstances which negatively affect the medical health of a child, a certified medical practitioner shall, in a timely manner, provide the county agency with the following information when an assessment for general protective services or a child abuse investigation is being conducted or when the family has been accepted for services by a county agency:  (1) Relevant medical information known to the certified medical practitioner regarding the child's prior and current health.  (2) Information from a subsequent examination. (3) Information regarding treatment of the child. (4) Relevant medical information known regarding any other child in the child's household where such information may contribute to the assessment, investigation or provision of services by the county agency to the child or other children in the household.  (b) Parental consent.--Parental consent is not required for the certified medical practitioner to provide the information under subsection (a).  (c) Request by certified medical practitioner.--If requested by the child's primary care physician or a certified medical practitioner who is providing medical care to the child, the county agency, in order to ensure the proper medical care of the child, shall provide the following information as it pertains to circumstances which negatively affect the medical health of the child:  (1) The final status of any assessment of general protective services or an investigation of child abuse, if the report of child abuse is indicated or founded.  (2) Information on an unfounded report of child abuse if the certified medical practitioner made the report as a mandated reporter under section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse).  (3) If accepted for services, any service provided, arranged for or to be provided by the county agency.  (4) The identity of other certified medical practitioners providing medical care to the child to obtain the child's medical records to allow for coordination of care between medical practitioners.  (d) Notification by county agency.--In circumstances which negatively affect the medical health of a child, the county agency shall notify the certified medical practitioner who is the child's primary care provider, if known, of the following information:  (1) The final status of any assessment of general protective services or an investigation of child abuse, if the report of child abuse is indicated or founded.  (2) Information on an unfounded report of child abuse if the certified medical practitioner made the report as a mandated reporter under section 6311.  (3) If accepted for services, any service provided, arranged for or to be provided by the county agency.  (Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2876, No.176, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)   2014 Amendment. Act 176 added section 6340.1.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6342 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6342 - Studies of data in records

§ 6342. Studies of data in records. (a) Studies.--The department may conduct or authorize the conducting of studies of the data contained in the Statewide database and by county agencies and distribute the results of the studies. No study may contain the name or other information by which a subject of a report could be identified. The department may allow Federal auditors access to nonidentifiable duplicates of reports in the Statewide database if required for Federal financial participation in funding of agencies.  (b) Data form.--The department shall develop a data form to facilitate the collection of statistical and demographic information from a child fatality or near fatality review team and a county agency, which can be incorporated into a study conducted by the department.  (July 3, 2008, P.L.276, No.33, eff. 180 days; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)    2014 Amendment. Act 29 amended subsec. (a).  Cross References. Section 6342 is referred to in sections 6335, 6336 of this title.
23 PA Cons Stat § 6343.1 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS|Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services|Section 6343.1 - Citizen review panels

§ 6343.1. Citizen review panels. (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a minimum of three citizen review panels. The department may designate a child fatality or near fatality review team under section 6365(d) (relating to services for prevention, investigation and treatment of child abuse) as a citizen review panel as long as the team has the capacity to perform as a citizen review panel.  (b) Function.--The panels shall examine all of the following:  (1) Policies, procedures and practices of State and local agencies and, where appropriate, specific cases to evaluate the extent to which State and local child protective services system agencies are effectively discharging their child protection responsibilities under section 106(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Public Law 93-247, 42 U.S.C. § 5106a(b)).  (2) Other criteria the panel considers important to ensure the protection of children, including:  (i) a review of the extent to which the State and local child protective services system is coordinated with the foster care and adoption programs established under Part E of Title IV of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 670 et seq.); and  (ii) a review of child fatalities and near fatalities, including, but not limited to, a review of any child fatality or near fatality involving a child in the custody of a public or private agency where there is no report of suspected child abuse and the cause of death is neither the result of child abuse nor natural causes.  (c) Membership.--The panels shall be composed of volunteer members who represent the community, including members who have expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.  (d) Meetings.--Each citizen review panel shall meet not less than once every three months.  (e) Reports.--The department shall issue an annual report summarizing the activities and recommendations of the panels and summarizing the department response to the recommendations.  (Nov. 9, 2006, P.L.1358, No.146, eff. 180 days; July 3, 2008, P.L.276, No.33, eff. 180 days)    2008 Amendment. Act 33 amended subsecs. (a) and (b)(2)(ii).  2006 Amendment. Act 146 added section 6343.1.  Cross References. Section 6343.1 is referred to in sections 6335, 6340 of this title.