N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:50-3.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 3A:50-3.5 - Reporting requirements

(a) The agency shall orally notify the Department of Children and Families' toll-free hotline, 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (652-2873), immediately, whenever there is any allegation received by the agency or other reasonable cause to believe that a child under the supervision or care of the agency has been or is being abused or neglected by any person, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.9, 8.10, 8.13, and 8.14. The agency shall notify the Office of Licensing of these allegations, as well as of any other allegations that were made by other parties and came to the agency's attention.

(b) The agency shall notify the Office of Licensing orally of any of the following changes or events within 24 hours after the agency learns of their occurrence and shall submit written notification to the Office within five working days:

1. Unanticipated permanent or temporary closing of the agency or any part thereof;

2. Any criminal convictions of any staff member involved in the agency's adoption program excluding minor traffic violations;

3. Legal action against the agency or a staff member which involves the operation of the agency or any child under the care of the agency, excluding any legal actions unrelated to agency business;

4. Damage to agency facilities which substantially disrupts the program or the agency's accessibility to clients; or

5. Knowledge of any child placement by any other party which the agency has reason to believe is not permitted by law or by this chapter.

(c) The agency shall notify the Office of Licensing in writing at least 30 calendar days prior to any of the following proposed changes and events, if known:

1. Any plans to reorganize the adoption program that would involve changes in target populations, geographic area, services or eligibility, and the reasons for the changes;

2. Any change in the name, location, executive director, administrator or social work supervisor of the agency; or

3. Any change in the majority of the membership of the governing board within a calendar year.

(d) The agency shall notify the Office of Licensing in writing 90 calendar days prior to the date when the agency expects to suspend or cease operations of the agency's adoption program.

(e) The agency shall notify both the appropriate county prosecutor and the Office of Licensing within three working days of any adoption activity that involves an intermediary that allegedly violates N.J.S.A. 9:3-37 et seq., the State Adoption Law.

(f) The agency shall notify the Office of Licensing in writing of any adoption activity specified in (e) above within five working days of the agency's notification to the county prosecutor.

(g) The agency shall make the following arrangements once a decision to cease its adoption program has been made:

1. Transfer the care and custody of any children in the supervision of the agency to another agency certified by the Department on or before the anticipated date of closing;

2. Transfer responsibility for any other clients, such as adoptive and/or birth parents in the adoption program to another agency certified by the Department on or before the anticipated date of closing;

3. Notify the Office of Licensing of the successor agency within 30 calendar days of closing;

4. Transfer all closed adoption records to a successor private agency certified by the Department. The closing agency shall ensure that such transfers of closed adoption records are implemented within one year after the agency's adoption program ceases to operate;

5. Send to all current adoption clients, including birth parents, adoptive applicants and adoptive parents as well as adult adoptees and relevant agencies with whom the agency is currently working, a letter explaining its decision to cease operation of its adoption program; and

6. Return its certificate to the Office of Licensing.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:50-3.5

Amended by R.1995 d.431, effective 8/7/1995.
See: 27 N.J.R. 661(a), 27 N.J.R. 2922(a).
Added (e) and (f) and recodified existing (e) as (g).
Amended by R.1997 d.480, effective 11/17/1997.
See: 29 N.J.R. 3230(a), 29 N.J.R. 4857(a).
In (e), provided for notification to the Bureau of Licensing.
Amended by R.2011 d.245, effective 10/3/2011.
See: 42 N.J.R. 1965(a), 43 N.J.R. 2600(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2016 d.052, effective 6/6/2016.
See: 47 N.J.R. 3078(a), 48 N.J.R. 103(a), 48 N.J.R. 965(a).
Rewrote (a).