Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0250-07-09-.08 - ALLEGED PERPETRATORS WITH CURRENT ACCESS TO CHILDREN; EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION

(1) The provisions of this Rule apply to individuals classified as perpetrators of any form of abuse or neglect in a substantiated report who pose an immediate threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a child or children to whom the alleged perpetrator has access.

(2) As soon as reasonably possible, the Commissioner's designee shall conduct an emergency file review to determine if an individual identified in a substantiated report as a perpetrator of any form of abuse or neglect poses an immediate threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a child or children to whom the individual has access.

(3) In completing an emergency file review, the Commissioner's designee shall determine whether the substantiated report should be upheld, and whether there is an immediate threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a child or children to whom the alleged perpetrator has access.

(a) If both factors are met, the Department shall then follow the procedures set forth in paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) of this Rule.

(b) If no such immediate threat exists, the Department shall not immediately reveal the alleged perpetrator's identity.

(4) As soon as reasonably possible, the Department shall notify in writing both the alleged perpetrator and the organization or person with whom the individual is associated, if the Commissioner's designee determines the alleged perpetrator poses an immediate threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a child or children to whom the individual has access.

(a) The notice shall contain the information set forth in Rule 0250-07-09-.07(11); and

(b) A statement that the organization or person with which the individual is associated shall receive notice of the Department's determination. The notice shall contain the following:

1. That the organization or person shall ensure that the individual is not a threat to the safety of any child in their care; and

2. That the individual has been notified of his or her rights to a hearing on the allegations, and that the organization or person shall be notified of the final decision regarding the allegations.

(5) If the individual fails timely to request a hearing absent good cause, the individual shall waive his or her right to a hearing. The Department's substantiated report regarding the individual shall then be available for dissemination, in accordance with these rules, to any associated organization or associated person and the individual's identity shall be placed in the registry. The Department must receive the request for a hearing within the time frame set out in Rule 0250-07-09-.09(2) for the request to be considered timely.

(6) If the individual timely requests a hearing, pursuant to Rule 0250-07-09-.09(2), the Department shall follow the procedures set forth in Rule 0250-07-09-.09(4).

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0250-07-09-.08

Original rule filed September 13, 1988; effective October 28, 1988. Rule assigned a new control number, removed and renumbered from 1240-07-09-.05 filed and effective March 25, 1999. Repeal and new rule filed September 11, 2006; effective November 25, 2006. Emergency rule filed July 19, 2013; effective through January 15, 2014. On January 16, 2014, the rule reverted to its previous status. Amendments filed October 6, 2017; effective 1/4/2018.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-226(b)(2), 37-1-409, 37-1-612, 37-1-616, 37-5-101, 37-5-105, 37-5-106, 37-5-107, 37-5-112, 37-5-112(a), and 37-5-512(a).