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Bill Summary · LC 52

Summary of LC 52: Generally revise child abuse and neglect definitions

Overview

  • Bill Number: LC 52
  • Title: Generally revise child abuse and neglect definitions
  • Status: Draft; Died in Process
  • Introduced: August 28, 2024
  • Classification/Subject: Courts; Family Law; Health; Minors
  • Legislative Actions:
    • 2024-08-28: Drafter Assigned
    • 2025-02-24: Draft On Hold
    • 2025-05-22: Draft Died in Process

Purpose and Intent

The bill aims to revise the statutory definitions of child abuse and neglect. While the full text is not provided here, such revisions typically seek to clarify thresholds for abuse and neglect, harmonize definitions across related statutes (e.g., child welfare, criminal law, civil proceedings), and improve consistency in determination and intervention to better protect children while safeguarding family rights and due process.

Key Provisions (Note on Availability)

The actual text of LC 52 is not included in the information provided. As a result, specific section-by-section provisions, definitions, and statutory amendments cannot be enumerated here. The bill’s title indicates a broad redefinition across standards used to identify abuse and neglect, which could affect:
- The scope of what constitutes abuse or neglect
- Thresholds for state intervention (investigations, removals, or court involvement)
- Roles and responsibilities of mandated reporters, child welfare agencies, and law enforcement
- Procedures and standards used by courts in abuse/neglect cases

Readers seeking precise provisions should consult the official bill text in the legislature’s repository or legislative information system (LIS) using LC 52.

Who Would be Affected

  • Children and their families (potentially impacting eligibility for protective services and court involvement)
  • Child welfare agencies and social workers
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors
  • Judges, juries, and other court participants
  • Mandatory reporters (e.g., teachers, healthcare providers, social workers)
  • Health and safety services operating under state authority
  • The foster care and adoption systems, if removals or care arrangements are influenced

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: August 28, 2024
  • Drafter Assigned: August 28, 2024
  • On Hold: February 24, 2025
  • Died in Process: May 22, 2025
  • Implication: The bill did not advance to passage and has since remained inactive. No enacted changes would take effect unless reintroduced and enacted in a future session.

Next Steps for Readers

  • Review the official bill text for LC 52 to understand exact changes proposed.
  • Track amendments, committee hearings, and floor actions in the legislative information system.
  • Consider how revised definitions could affect child welfare practice, judicial decision-making, and reporting requirements in your jurisdiction.

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

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