Ohio House Passes House Bill 532

State Representative Kevin Miller (R-Newark) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 532 – legislation that would require County Child Protective Service Agencies to take temporary custody of a non-resident child from a law enforcement agency when the child cannot be safely released to a parent or guardian due to the child residing outside of the county. 

Common circumstances of this would be as follows:

• During an arrest
• Fatal vehicle accident
• In cases of abandonment, neglect or unsafe conditions

Under current law, Child Protective Services will only respond and take custody of resident children from law enforcement. However, if a child is a non-resident, they will not respond nor take possession of the child.  

“This legislation will guarantee that every child taken into custody in an emergency situation has an agency immediately accountable for their care and safety regardless of where they reside,” said Miller.  “Additionally, it will support our law enforcement agencies by freeing up valuable limited resources to concentrate on the important mission essential tasks.” 

House Bill 532 now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.