2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services
6334 - Disposition of complaints received.

     § 6334.  Disposition of complaints received.
        (a)  Notice to county agency.--Upon receipt of a complaint of
     suspected child abuse, the department shall immediately transmit
     orally to the appropriate county agency notice that the
     complaint of suspected child abuse has been received and the
     substance of the complaint. If the Statewide central register or
     the pending complaint file contains information indicating a
     prior report or a current investigation concerning a subject of
     the report, the department shall immediately notify the
     appropriate county agency of this fact. The appropriate county
     agency shall mean the agency in the county where the suspected
     child abuse occurred. If the residency of the subjects is a
     factor that requires the cooperation of more than one county
     agency, the department shall develop regulations to ensure the
     cooperation of those agencies in carrying out the requirements
     of this chapter.
        (b)  Referral for services or investigation.--If the
     complaint received does not suggest suspected child abuse but
     does suggest a need for social services or other services or
     investigation, the department shall transmit the information to
     the county agency or other public agency for appropriate action.
     The information shall not be considered a child abuse report
     unless the agency to which the information was referred has
     reasonable cause to suspect after investigation that abuse
     occurred. If the agency has reasonable cause to suspect that
     abuse occurred, the agency shall notify the department, and the
     initial complaint shall be considered to have been a child abuse
     report.
        (c)  Recording in pending complaint file.--Upon receipt of a
     complaint of suspected child abuse, the department shall
     maintain a record of the complaint of suspected child abuse in
     the pending complaint file. Upon receipt of a report under
     section 6353.2 (relating to responsibilities of county agency),
     the department shall maintain a record of the report in the
     report file under section 6331 (relating to establishment of
     pending complaint file, Statewide central register and file of
     unfounded reports).
        (d)  Incidents occurring outside of this Commonwealth.--
            (1)  A report of suspected child abuse occurring in
        another state where the child victim is identified as a
        resident of this Commonwealth and the other state child
        protective services agency cannot investigate the report
        because of statutory or policy limitations shall be assigned
        as a general protective services report to the county of the
        child's residence or as determined by the department.
            (2)  In addition to complying with the other requirements
        of this chapter and applicable regulations, a copy of the
        report shall be provided to the other state's child
        protective services agency and, when applicable under
        Pennsylvania law, to law enforcement officials where the
        incident occurred.
            (3)  Reports and information under this subsection shall
        be provided within seven calendar days of completion of the
        general protective services assessment under section 6375
        (relating to county agency requirements for general
        protective services).
     (Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; July 7,
     2005, P.L.196, No.43, eff. imd.)

        2005 Amendment.  Act 43 added subsec. (d).
        Cross References.  Section 6334 is referred to in sections
     6335, 6336 of this title.