DAR File No. 41972
This rule was published in the August 15, 2017, issue (Vol. 2017, No. 16) of the Utah State Bulletin.
Education, Administration
Rule R277-401
Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by Education Personnel
Notice of Proposed Rule
(Amendment)
DAR File No.: 41972
Filed: 07/31/2017 02:46:50 PM
RULE ANALYSIS
Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:
Rule R277-401 is amended to provide technical and conforming changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah and clarifying provisions that need to be in a local education agency's (LEA's) child abuse-neglect policy.
Summary of the rule or change:
The amendments to Rule R277-401 provide technical and conforming changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah throughout the rule and provide language to clarify policy and procedure requirements.
Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:
- Section 53A-1-401
- Art X, Sec 3
- Section 62A-4a-403
Anticipated cost or savings to:
the state budget:
The amendments to Rule R277-401 will likely not result in a cost or savings to the state budget. The rule is updated with technical and conforming changes and clarification is provided for LEA policy and procedure requirements.
local governments:
The amendments to Rule R277-401 will likely not result in a cost or savings to local government. The rule is updated with technical and conforming changes and clarification is provided for LEA policy and procedure requirements.
small businesses:
The amendments to Rule R277-401 will likely not result in a cost or savings to small businesses. The rule is updated with technical and conforming changes and clarification is provided for LEA policy and procedure requirements.
persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:
The amendments to Rule R277-401 will likely not result in a cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. The rule is updated with technical and conforming changes and clarification is provided for LEA policy and procedure requirements.
Compliance costs for affected persons:
The amendments to Rule R277-401 will likely not result in any compliance costs for affected persons. The rule is updated with technical and conforming changes and clarification is provided for LEA policy and procedure requirements.
Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:
After conducting a thorough analysis, it was determined that the amendments to this rule will not result in a fiscal impact to businesses.
Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent
The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:
EducationAdministration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272
Direct questions regarding this rule to:
- Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]
Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:
09/14/2017
This rule may become effective on:
09/21/2017
Authorized by:
Angela Stallings, Deputy Superintendent, Policy and Communication
RULE TEXT
R277. Education, Administration.
R277-401. Child Abuse - Neglect Reporting by Education Personnel.
R277-401-[2]1. Authority and Purpose.
[A.](1) This rule is authorized
by: [under]
(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision [of]over public education in the Board; [and Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance
with its responsibilities.]
(b) Section 62A-4a-403, which requires individuals to report suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities; and
(c) Section 53A-1-401, which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law.
[B.](2) The purpose of this rule is to clarify:
([1]a) the Board's support for taking early protective
measures towards allegations of child abuse[. The daily contact of]
by education personnel
whose daily contact with children places them in a unique
position to identify and refer suspected cases of abuse
or neglect[.]; and
([2]b) the role of all school employees in reporting and
participating in investigations of suspected child abuse
and neglect [as required by Section 62A-4a-403].
R277-401-[1]2. Definitions.
[A. This rule uses the definition of neglected child found
in Section 78A
-
6
-
105(28).
B. This rule uses the definition of abused child found in
Section 78A
-
6
-
105(2).
C. "Board" means the Utah State Board of
Education.]
(1) "Abused child" has the same meaning as defined in Subsection 78A-6-105(2).
[D.](2) "DCFS" means the
Utah Division of Child and Family Services.
[E.](3) "LEA" [means a local education agency, including local school
boards/public school districts, charter schools, and]includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for
the Deaf and the Blind.
(4) "Neglected child" has the same meaning as defined in Subsection 78A-6-105(36).
R277-401-3. Policies and Procedures.
[A.](1) Each LEA shall develop and adopt a child abuse-neglect
policy, which shall include, at a minimum, the following
provisions[.]:
([1]a) [School officials]an LEA employee shall cooperate with social service and law
enforcement agency employees authorized to investigate charges of
child abuse and neglect, including[.]:
(i) allowing appropriate access to students;
(ii) allowing authorized agency employees to interview children consistent with DCFS and local law enforcement protocols;
(iii) making no contact with the parents or legal guardians of children being questioned by DCFs or law enforcement authorities; and
(iv) maintaining appropriate confidentiality;
([2]b)
an LEA [policies] shall [ensure that]
preserve the anonymity of those reporting or investigating
child abuse or neglect [is preserved in a manner required by Section 62A-4a-412.]; and
[(3) An LEA policy may direct a school employee to notify
the building principal of the neglect or abuse. Such a report to a
principal, supervisor, school nurse or psychologist does not
satisfy the employee's personal duty to report to law
enforcement or DCFS.]
[(4) LEA policies shall direct school employees to cooperate
appropriately with law enforcement and DCFS investigators who come
into the school, including:
(a) allowing authorized representatives to interview
children consistent with DCFS and local law enforcement
protocols;
(b) allowing appropriate access to student
records;
(c) making no contact with parents/legal guardians of
children being questioned by DCFS or local law enforcement;
and
(d) cooperating with ongoing investigations and
maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
B. School employee responsibilities]
([1]c)(i) [A]any school employee who knows or reasonably believes that a
child has been neglected, or physically or sexually abused, shall
immediately notify the nearest peace officer, law enforcement
agency, or DCFS.
([2]ii)
If a school employee reasonably suspects child abuse or
neglect, [I]it is not the responsibility of
the school employee[s] to prove that the child has been abused or
neglected, or determine whether the child is in need of
protection.[Investigations are the responsibility of the
DCFS.]
(iii) Investigation by education personnel prior to submitting a report should not go beyond that necessary to support a reason to believe that a reportable problem exists.
(2) An LEA policy may direct a school employee to notify a school official of suspected neglect or abuse, but any such requirement shall clarify that notifying a school official does not satisfy the employee's personal duty to report to law enforcement or DCFS.
(3) Persons making reports or participating in an investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect in good faith are immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might arise from those actions, as provided by law.
(4) An LEA shall annually notify an employee of the employee's legal responsibility to report suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities as described in Section 62A-4a-403.
KEY: child abuse, [faculty,]reporting,
students, employees
[, education policy]
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [October 9, 2012]2017
Notice of Continuation: July 14, 2017
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3;
53A
-
1
-
401[(3)]
Additional Information
More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.
The Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Bulletin is the official version. The PDF version of this issue is available at https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2017/b20170815.pdf. The HTML edition of the Bulletin is a convenience copy. Any discrepancy between the PDF version and HTML version is resolved in favor of the PDF version.
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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]. For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Office of Administrative Rules.