STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, Nos. 698, 703, 1389 and 1390

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Assemblyman PASCRELL)

ADOPTED: MAY 6, 1996

      These floor amendments require the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) to make available to the public, six months following the death of a child or a critical incident, all records of child abuse reports and all information obtained by DYFS in investigating the child abuse or critical incident if the public disclosure is in the best interest of the child involved and any of the following factors is met:

      1. The subject of DYFS’ investigation has been indicted for an act of child abuse or neglect;

      2. DYFS’ involvement in an investigation has been publicly disclosed; or

      3. A child named in the child abuse report or involved in the critical incident has died.