S693 - Expedite Child Safety and Permanency. (SL 2021-132)

Overview: Part I of S.L. 2021-132 makes various child welfare reforms to the Juvenile Code (Chapter 7B of the General Statutes) regarding abuse, neglect, and dependency laws.

Part II of this act instructs the director of social services on how to provide notification to the responsible individual for a juvenile if the juvenile is the victim of human trafficking by someone other than the juvenile's parents or caretakers.

Part III of this act, as amended by Section 9I.13 of S.L. 2021-180, the 2021 Appropriations Act, directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to implement a statewide child protective services (CPS) hotline. DHHS is required to submit a progress report on its development and implementation of the statewide CPS hotline to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by September 1, 2022.

Part IV of this act directs DHHS to develop a plan to increase the supply of appropriate treatment and residential settings for minors in need of behavioral and mental health services. The operation plan was to be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by October 1, 2021.

Part V of this act implements the following requirements for the DSS director, local management entity/managed care organization (LME/MCOs), and prepaid health plans when a juvenile in the custody of DSS presents at a hospital emergency department for mental health treatment:

• Requires the DSS director to request an assessment within 24 hours of the determination that the juvenile should not remain at the hospital and that no appropriate placement is available.
• Instructs the LME/MCO or prepaid health plan to arrange for a comprehensive clinical assessment within five business days.
• Outlines appropriate placements for the juvenile depending on the outcome of the assessment.
• Requires the DSS director to notify DHHS's Rapid Response Team if an appropriate placement or provider is not located for a juvenile after the assessment.

Part V of this act authorizes a hearing for judicial review if the requirements for the appropriate placement of the juvenile in the custody of DSS are not satisfied and specifies possible remedies the court may order.

Part VI of this act requires the State Board of Education to adopt a rule requiring public school units to provide students in grades six through 12 with age-appropriate information on child abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. The information must be provided in the form of a document given to the students at the beginning of the school year and as a display posted in visible, high-traffic areas throughout the school. Both the document and display must contain specified information. Part VI of S.L. 2021-132 applies to schools in public school units and high schools under the control of The University of North Carolina.

The various changes to the Juvenile Code became effective October 1, 2021, and apply to actions filed or pending on or after that date. The provision regarding human trafficking notification became effective October 1, 2021. The new procedures for juveniles in DSS custody presenting at emergency department for mental health treatment became effective October 1, 2021. The authorization of a hearing on appropriate placement for juveniles in need of mental health services became effective January 1, 2022. The requirement to provide information on child abuse, neglect and sexual abuse to students would apply beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. Except as otherwise provided, this act became effective September 1, 2021.