Bill Summary
The "Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act" aims to enhance the safety and oversight of military child and youth programs by establishing a requirement for prompt notification in cases of alleged or suspected child abuse or neglect.
Key provisions include:
1. **Notification to Parents/Guardians**: Military child and youth programs must inform the parents or guardians of a child within 24 hours upon becoming aware of any suspected abuse or neglect.
2. **Reporting to Authorities**: Within 72 hours of the awareness of such incidents, these programs are also required to notify relevant congressional committees and local representatives about the case.
3. **Scope of Programs**: The legislation applies to military child development centers, Department of Defense youth programs, family home day care services, and other childcare providers receiving federal assistance.
This act seeks to ensure accountability and transparency in the care of children in military settings, fostering a safer environment for youth involved in these programs.
Possible Impacts
The "Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act" could affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Awareness and Communication:**
The legislation mandates that parents or guardians of children in military child and youth programs must be notified within 24 hours of any alleged or suspected abuse or neglect. This requirement enhances communication between program providers and families, allowing parents to be more informed about their children's safety and well-being. This prompt notification can facilitate timely intervention and support for affected children and families.
2. **Accountability of Childcare Providers:**
By requiring that notifications regarding suspected abuse or neglect are sent not only to parents but also to relevant congressional committees and local representatives, the legislation establishes a system of accountability for childcare providers. This added layer of oversight may encourage these programs to maintain higher standards of care and vigilance in monitoring for signs of abuse or neglect, ultimately fostering a safer environment for children.
3. **Support for Legislative Oversight and Policy Development:**
The requirement to notify congressional committees empowers lawmakers to monitor the prevalence of abuse and neglect incidents within military child and youth programs. This oversight can lead to better understanding of the issues and potential legislative action aimed at improving child protection strategies. As a result, it may influence future policy decisions, budget allocations, and the implementation of best practices in child welfare within military contexts.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6313 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6313
To require military child and youth programs to provide prompt notice
of alleged or suspected neglect or abuse of children to the parents or
guardians of those children, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 25, 2025
Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Moore of Utah, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Wittman,
Ms. Strickland, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Bell, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Case, Ms. Norton,
Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Carson, Ms. Garcia of Texas, and Mr.
Davis of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require military child and youth programs to provide prompt notice
of alleged or suspected neglect or abuse of children to the parents or
guardians of those children, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Child and Youth Program
Abuse and Neglect Notification Act''.
SEC. 2. NOTIFICATION OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AT PROVIDERS OF CHILD
CARE SERVICES OR YOUTH PROGRAMS.
Section 1794 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Notification of Suspected Child Abuse.--(1) The Secretary of
Defense shall prescribe a policy that requires covered child and youth
programs to--
``(A) not later than 24 hours after a program becomes aware
of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect of a child occurring
in such program, notify the parents and guardians of such child
of such alleged or suspected abuse or neglect; and
``(B) not later than 72 hours after a program becomes aware
of alleged abuse or neglect of a child occurring in such
program, provide notice of such alleged abuse or neglect to--
``(i) the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives;
``(ii) if the alleged abuse or neglect occurs in
one of the several States, the Senators that represent
the State in which the alleged abuse or neglect
occurred; and
``(iii) if the alleged abuse or neglect occurs in a
location represented by a Member of, or Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to, the House of Representatives,
the Member of, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to,
the House of Representatives that represents such
location.
``(2) In this subsection, the term `covered child and youth
program' means a military child development center, a Department of
Defense youth program, a family home day care, or a provider of child
care services or youth program services that receives financial
assistance under section 1798.''.
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