H.R. 6313: Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act

This bill, titled the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act, aims to enhance the notification process concerning allegations of child abuse and neglect within military child and youth programs. It proposes specific requirements that must be followed when there are suspected cases of abuse or neglect involving children in these programs.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Notification of Parents and Guardians:
  • The bill requires that parents or guardians of a child must be notified within 24 hours if a military child and youth program becomes aware of any alleged or suspected abuse or neglect involving that child.
• Reporting to Authorities:
  • In addition to notifying the parents or guardians, the program must report the suspected abuse or neglect to relevant authorities within 72 hours. This includes:
    • The Committees on Armed Services of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
    • U.S. Senators representing the state where the alleged incident occurred, if applicable.
    • The House Representative for the area where the incident took place.
• Definition of Covered Programs:
  • The term "covered child and youth program" refers to various childcare and youth services provided by the military, including military child development centers, Department of Defense youth programs, family home day cares, and other childcare services receiving financial aid under specific legislation.

Purpose of the Bill

The main purpose of the bill is to ensure that there is a prompt and structured response to allegations of child abuse and neglect within military-affiliated programs. By mandating swift communication with parents and appropriate authorities, the bill aims to improve the safety and welfare of children participating in these programs.

Implementation

The Secretary of Defense will be responsible for prescribing the necessary policies to enforce these notification requirements across the various military child and youth programs. This is intended to standardize the approach to handling such sensitive situations, promoting transparency and accountability.

Relevant Companies

None found.