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Bill Summary · HB 707

Purpose and intent

  • Establish Kei’Mani’s Law in Ohio. The bill aims to enhance the statewide management of child welfare information, improve interagency communication and monitoring of child abuse/neglect cases, require schools to appoint a dedicated child protection liaison, and expand access to and use of the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system (SACWIS).

Key provisions and changes

  • SACWIS access and integration

    • Expands who can access and enter SACWIS: juvenile courts and law enforcement agencies may access, upon request, and child protection liaisons (new role in schools) may also enter information as needed.
    • Criminal courts may request SACWIS information from public children services agencies (PCSAs) with appropriate limitations.
    • DCY (Department of Children and Family) must adopt rules governing access, entry, and use by courts and liaisons.

  • Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs) duties and SACWIS reporting

    • PCSAs must report any case of child abuse or neglect into SACWIS immediately (instead of within 24 hours under current practice).
    • Upon entering a report, PCSAs must automatically notify:
    • The law enforcement agency with jurisdiction
    • The school district or school attended by the child
    • The county prosecuting attorney (if necessary to protect the child)
    • PCSAs must update SACWIS records at least bi-weekly and keep entries active until certain case milestones are met (unsubstantiated, reunification/adoption, or termination of involvement).

  • Records, privacy, and confidentiality

    • SACWIS must include real-time notifications and inquiry response deadlines for PCSAs, law enforcement, courts, schools, and medical personnel.
    • SACWIS content must comply with privacy/security standards, including HIPAA and FERPA-equivalent protections.
    • Training on SACWIS use and confidentiality is mandatory for all who access the system.

  • Training and reporting

    • DCY must provide mandatory SACWIS training for all system users.
    • The DCY must issue quarterly reports to the General Assembly detailing SACWIS compliance, system performance, and updates.

  • School-based child protection liaison (new requirement)

    • All public schools (districts, community schools, STEM schools, and college-prep boarding schools) must appoint a child protection liaison.
    • Duties include:
    • Receiving, monitoring, and responding to SACWIS notifications and other communications from PCSAs or law enforcement
    • Serving as the primary contact between the school and PCSAs, law enforcement, the county prosecutor, and the court
    • Monitoring the progression and resolution of each case
    • Liaisons must complete DCY-provided training at appointment and annually, in addition to SACWIS-specific training.

  • Sectioned codifications and numbering

    • The bill would repeal several existing SACWIS-related sections and create new sections (3313.961, 5180.408, 5180.409, 5180.4010, 5180.4011) to implement these changes.
    • Several cross-referenced chapters and sections in the Revised Code are updated to reflect the expanded framework.

Who would be affected

  • Public schools (all districts, community, STEM, and college-preparatory boarding schools) would appoint a child protection liaison.
  • Public children services agencies (PCSAs) would have enhanced reporting, notification duties, and expedited SACWIS data entry.
  • Law enforcement agencies and juvenile courts would gain access to SACWIS information under defined circumstances.
  • Private child placing agencies, private noncustodial agencies, title IV-E agencies, and prosecuting attorneys could access SACWIS as per rules.
  • DCY (Department of Children and Youth) would oversee SACWIS policy, training, and quarterly reporting.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Immediate SACWIS reporting: PCSAs must enter abuse/neglect reports into SACWIS immediately.
  • Automatic notifications: Upon entry of a report, automatic alerts to law enforcement, schools, and prosecutors where appropriate.
  • Bi-weekly updates: PCSAs must refresh SACWIS case entries at least every two weeks.
  • Training requirements: New and ongoing training for all SACWIS users, with annual updates to reflect legal changes.
  • Quarterly reporting: DCY must report SACWIS status and compliance to the General Assembly.
  • Repeals and new enacting sections: The act repeals certain existing SACWIS provisions and creates new sections to codify the expanded framework.

Overall impact

  • A more integrated and timely flow of information across child welfare, education, and law enforcement.
  • Stronger school-based involvement in child protection through trained liaisons and direct SACWIS access.
  • Enhanced confidentiality protections paired with clearer operational rules for data sharing.
  • Increased oversight and accountability via mandatory training and quarterly reporting on SACWIS performance.

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

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