42 U.S.C. § 5106f — Reports

(a) Coordination efforts by 1 year after December 20, 2010, the Secretary^* must submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on efforts to coordinate the objectives and activities of agencies and organizations that are responsible for programs and activities related to child abuse and neglect. by 3 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary must submit to those committees a second report on such efforts during the 3-year period following December 20, 2010. by 5 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary must submit to those committees a third report on such efforts during the 5-year period following December 20, 2010. (b) Effectiveness of State^* programs and technical assistance by 2 years after December 20, 2010, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary must submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness of programs receiving assistance under section 5106a of this title in achieving the objectives of section 5106a of this title. (c) Study and report relating to citizen review panels (1) Generally The Secretary must conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of citizen review panels, established under section 5106a(c) of this title, in achieving the stated function of such panels under section 5106a(c)(4)(A) of this title of— (A) examining the policies, procedures, and practices^* of State and local child protection agencies; and (B) evaluating the extent to which such State and local child protection agencies are fulfilling their child protection responsibilities, as described in clauses (i) through (iii) of section 5106a(c)(4)(A) of this title. (2) Content of study The study described in paragraph (1) must be completed in a manner suited to the unique design of citizen review panels, including consideration of the variability among the panels within and between States. The study must include the following: (A) Data describing the membership, organizational structure, operation, and administration of all citizen review panels and the total number of such panels in each State. (B) A detailed summary of the extent to which collaboration and information-sharing occurs between citizen review panels and State child protective services agencies or any other entities or State agencies. The summary must include a description of the outcomes that result from collaboration and information sharing. (C) Evidence of the adherence and responsiveness to the reporting requirements under section 5106a(c)(6) of this title by citizen review panels and States. (3) Report by 2 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary must submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1). (d) Study and report relating to immunity from prosecution for professional consultation in suspected and known instances of child abuse and neglect (1) Study The Secretary must complete a study, in consultation with experts in the provision of healthcare, law enforcement, education, and local child welfare administration, that examines how provisions for immunity from prosecution under State and local laws and regulations facilitate and inhibit individuals cooperating, consulting, or assisting in making good faith reports, including mandatory reports, of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect. (2) Report by 1 year after December 20, 2010, the Secretary must submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1) and any recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes the Secretary determines appropriate. Such report may be submitted electronically.