Rule 1915.3-3 Report of Child Abuse and Protective Services

(a) General Rule. A court shall determine whether a participant in a child custody action has a history of child abuse or involvement with protective services.

(b) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this rule:

(1) ‘‘Participant’’ shall include any party, child, or member of a party’s household identified on the Criminal Record or Abuse History Verification, as required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 1915.3-2.

(2) ‘‘County agency’’ shall have the same meaning as set forth in Pa.R.J.C.P. 1120 (defining ‘‘county agency’’).

(3) ‘‘Form’’ shall be the form found at Pa.R.Civ.P. 1915.3-4.

(c) Submission. Whenever a party has disclosed a history of child abuse or involvement with protective services pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P. 1915.3-2, or the court or its designee believes that further inquiry is warranted, the court shall confirm or identify all participants on the form in Pa.R.Civ.P. 1915.3-4 and transmit the form for completion to the county agency with notice to the parties.

(d) Return. The county agency shall complete the form for all participants and return it to the court no later than 14 days or the time specified by the court after receiving the submission.

(e) Dissemination. Upon receipt of the completed form, the court shall promptly docket and disseminate it to the parties.

(f) Confidentiality. The completed form shall be confidential and not publicly accessible. Further dissemination by the recipients of the form is in violation of 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (Child Protective Services Law).

(g) Witnesses. The parties may subpoena with leave of court, or the court may otherwise order, the county agency to provide a witness or witnesses to attend and testify about any child abuse history or protective services disclosed on the form.