8-804

8-804. Central registry; notification

A. The department of economic security shall maintain a central registry of reports
of child abuse and neglect that are substantiated and the outcome of the investigation of
these reports made under this article. A finding made by a court pursuant to section
8-844, subsection C that a child is dependent based upon an allegation of abuse or
neglect shall be recorded as a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect. The department
shall incorporate duplicate reports on the same incident in the original report and shall
not classify duplicate reports as new reports.

B. Information contained in the central registry shall be used by the department
only for the following purposes:

1. To conduct background checks as one factor to determine qualifications for
foster home licensing, adoptive parent certification, child care home certification,
registration of unregulated child care homes with the child care resource and referral
system, and home and community based services certification for services to children.

2. To conduct background checks as one factor to determine qualifications for
persons applying for employment with this state in positions that provide direct service
to children or vulnerable adults and persons applying for contracts with this state,
including employees of the potential contractor, for positions that provide direct
service to children or vulnerable adults.

3. To identify and review reports concerning individual children and families, in
order to facilitate the assessment of risk.

4. To determine the nature and scope of child abuse and neglect in this state and
to provide statewide statistical and demographic information concerning trends in child
abuse and neglect.

5. To allow comparisons of this state's statistical data with national data.

6. To comply with section 8-804.01, subsection B.

C. If the department received a report before September 1, 1999 and determined that
the report was substantiated, the department shall maintain the report in the central
registry until eighteen years from the child victim's date of birth.

D. If the department received a report on or after September 1, 1999 and determined
that the report was substantiated, the department shall maintain the report in the
central registry for twenty-five years after the date of the report.

E. The department shall annually purge reports and investigative outcomes received
pursuant to the time frames prescribed in subsections C and D of this section.

F. Any person who was the subject of a child protective services investigation may
request confirmation that the department has purged information about the person pursuant
to subsection E of this section. On receipt of this request, the department shall provide
the person with written confirmation that the department has no record containing
identifying information about that person.