California § 10612.5 - The department shall oversee the program for internet-based reporting of child ab

§ 10612.5. The department shall oversee the program for internet-based reporting of child ab

(a) The department shall oversee the program for internet-based reporting of child abuse and neglect pursuant to Section 11166.02 of the Penal Code through the issuance of written directives that shall have the same force and effect as regulations. The directives shall be exempt from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (b) A county that chooses to participate in the program shall hire an evaluator to monitor the implementation of the program and submit evaluations to the State Department of Social Services during the first two years of implementation. The department may authorize additional time if needed, as determined by the department after consultation with the county, in accordance with directives issued by the department pursuant to subdivision (a). At a minimum, the evaluations shall address the outcome measures described in subdivision (c). (c) In addition to any requirements set forth by the department under this section, a county that participates in the program shall, in collaboration with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and the department, develop outcome measures to determine the effectiveness of the program of the county during the duration of the program, which may include the following: (1) The number of reports provided by telephone and any increase or decrease in the usage of telephone reports. (2) The number of reports provided through the internet-based reporting system and any increase or decrease in usage of the system. (3) Any increase or decrease in the number of emergency or nonemergency telephone reports. (4) Any increase or decrease in the overall number of emergency or nonemergency reports. (d) A county that participates in the program shall, within two years of the county’s implementation, provide information to the Assembly Committee on Human Services and the Senate Committee on Human Services pertaining to the effectiveness of the program based on the outcome measures developed pursuant to subdivision (c). (e) The department may conclude the program on a county-by-county basis if the evaluation and monitoring indicate the program is compromising the safety of children.