GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                    2

SENATE BILL 598

Health Care Committee Substitute Adopted 4/27/15

 

Short Title:        Substance‑Exposed Newborns Protection Plans.		(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

March 30, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to require the department of health and human services to adopt rules addressing substance‑exposed newborn child protective services cases.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 7B‑300A.  Substance‑exposed newborn cases.

(a)        The General Assembly recognizes that there are instances when children are born having been exposed to addictive substances and that such situations may require a child protective services social worker to approach the situation with certain sensitivities and a level of awareness of this population of children who are at greater risk because of various physical, emotional, cultural, or environmental factors that make children more vulnerable to abuse or less able to communicate their fears.

(b)        County departments of social services shall follow rules adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the development of protection plans for substance‑exposed newborns and the conduct of child protective services assessments of those newborns when an assessment is warranted. Further, pursuant to rules adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services, county departments of social services shall use structured decision‑making tools and family services agreements for substance‑exposed newborn cases to ensure the well‑being of the newborn and a safe living environment for the newborn. The family services agreements shall also address any applicable issues, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1)        The newborn's need for medical care appointments.

(2)        Access to, and cooperation with, health care resources.

(3)        The parent's participation in substance abuse treatment.

(4)        The need for routine substance abuse screenings.

(5)        Visitation planning if the newborn is placed out of the home."

SECTION 2.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt rules to implement this act.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.