ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 608

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 10, 1996

      The Assembly Community Services Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 608.

      As amended by committee this bill requires that the Division of Youth and Family Services in the Department of Human Services expunge from its records all information relating to any report, complaint or allegation of child abuse or neglect which the division has determined to be unfounded.

      For the purposes of this bill, "unfounded" means there is no concern on the part of the division that the safety or welfare of the child is at risk.

      The amendments delete the provision in the bill which requires that any reason for denying the expungement of records shall be made known by the division to the individual who is seeking the expungement.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 1845 (Cruz-Perez/Vandervalk) which was amended and released by this committee on this date.