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HB 1607

An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for definitions, for reporting procedure, for disposition of complaints received, for responsibility for investigation, for access to information in Statewide database, for information in Statewide database and for release of information in confidential reports.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and 12 co-sponsors

HB 1607 restructures Pennsylvania's child protective services reporting, investigation, and database access procedures to clarify agency responsibilities and information sharing protocols.

Referred to Children & Youth
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Bill Summary · HB 1607

Legislative bill overview

HB 1607 modifies Pennsylvania's child protective services framework under Title 23 (Domestic Relations) by revising definitions, reporting procedures, complaint handling, investigation responsibilities, and access rules for the Statewide database containing child welfare information. The bill adjusts how information flows between agencies and who can access confidential child protective services reports.

Why is this important

Child protective services operate at the intersection of child safety and family privacy—changes to reporting procedures, investigation protocols, and information access directly affect how quickly abuse/neglect is identified and how thoroughly cases are investigated. These modifications could either enhance coordination between agencies to protect vulnerable children or expand information sharing in ways that affect family confidentiality and due process.

Potential points of contention

  • Expanded database access: Determining which agencies/officials should access sensitive child welfare information involves balancing child protection against privacy rights and potential misuse of data
  • Reporting procedure changes: Modifications to who must report and how reports are handled could either strengthen protections or create new burdens on mandatory reporters and schools
  • Investigation standards: Shifts in responsibility for investigating complaints may affect response times, thoroughness, and resource allocation across counties and agencies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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