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SJ 30

Study the child abuse and neglect registry

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dennis Lenz

SJ 30 would study how the child abuse and neglect registry operates to improve accuracy, due process, privacy, and access, with recommendations for changes.

(H) Died in Standing Committee
#familylaw #interimstudybills #interimstudyresolutions
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Bill Summary · SJ 30

Summary — SJ 30: Study the child abuse and neglect registry

Status: Joint resolution — Died in House Standing Committee (May 23, 2025)
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Subject area: Family law (minors), interim studies, statutory review

Purpose / intent

SJ 30 is a legislative joint resolution to initiate a formal study of the state's child abuse and neglect registry (sometimes called the central registry). The resolution’s purpose is to examine how the registry operates, whether current law and practice protect children while safeguarding due process and privacy, and whether statutory or administrative changes are needed to improve accuracy, access, and outcomes for families and mandated reporters.

Key elements (based on typical study resolutions)

The bill text is not provided in the materials supplied. Based on the title and common legislative practice for interim studies, SJ 30 would have done some or all of the following:

  • Create or authorize an interim study (legislative committee or task force) to review the child abuse and neglect registry.
  • Define the study scope to include topics such as: criteria for listing, data accuracy, notification and appeal procedures, sealing/expungement, information access by employers/licensing bodies, data-sharing, impacts on parents/caregivers and professionals, and racial/economic disparities.
  • Require stakeholder consultations with child welfare agencies, courts, advocates, legal representatives, employers, and privacy experts.
  • Direct preparation of findings and recommendations for statutory or administrative changes to be reported to the Legislature (timeline and deliverables typically specified in the resolution).

Because the detailed resolution text is not included, specific membership, reporting deadlines, and required deliverables are not available here.

Who would be affected

  • Families and caregivers whose names or households are listed on the registry
  • Children subject to child protective services investigations
  • State child welfare agencies (e.g., Department of Human Services / Child Protective Services)
  • Mandated reporters (schools, healthcare providers, childcare providers)
  • Employers, licensing boards, and background-check systems that use registry information
  • Legal and advocacy organizations focused on child welfare and civil liberties

Procedural timeline / legislative history (selected)

  • 2025-01-08: Introduced
  • 2025-01-24: Senate public hearing; reported favorably and placed on calendar
  • 2025-01-28: Adopted by the Senate (on consent calendar) and transmitted to the House
  • April 2025: Senate committee hearings and floor action show the resolution was considered and amended in Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety, and passed 2nd/3rd readings in late April; transmitted to House 4/25
  • 2025-04-25 to 2025-04-28: Referred to House Human Services Committee; hearing held; then tabled in committee
  • 2025-05-23: Died in House Standing Committee (Human Services)

Related: LC 505 is listed as replaced by this measure.

Impact and next steps

Had it moved forward, the study could have produced legislative recommendations to adjust statutory standards, procedural safeguards, or administrative practices governing the registry. Because SJ 30 died in the House committee in May 2025, any study or reforms would need either a reintroduction of the resolution, inclusion of similar language in another bill, or an executive/agency-led review. Stakeholders interested in registry changes would likely seek to refile the measure or pursue agency rulemaking and pilot changes outside the legislative process.

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

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