Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6331 (2026)

 Establishment of Statewide database.

✓ current as of May 2026
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SUBCHAPTER C

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT

 

Sec.

6331.  Establishment of Statewide database.

6332.  Establishment of Statewide toll-free telephone number.

6333.  Continuous availability of department.

6334.  Disposition of complaints received.

6334.1. Responsibility for investigation.

6335.  Access to information in Statewide database.

6336.  Information in Statewide database.

6337.  Disposition and expunction of unfounded reports and general protective services reports.

6338.  Disposition of founded and indicated reports.

6338.1. Expunction of information of perpetrator who was under 18 years of age when child abuse was committed.

6339.  Confidentiality of reports.

6340.  Release of information in confidential reports.

6340.1. Exchange of information.

6341.  Amendment or expunction of information.

6342.  Studies of data in records.

6343.  Investigating performance of county agency.

6343.1. Citizen review panels.

6344.  Employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster parents.

6344.1. Information relating to certified or licensed child-care home residents.

6344.2. Volunteers having contact with children.

6344.3. Continued employment or participation in program, activity or service.

6344.4. Recertification.

6345.  Audits by Attorney General.

6346.  Cooperation of other agencies.

6347.  Reports to Governor and General Assembly.

6348.  Regulations.

6349.  Penalties.

§ 6331.  Establishment of Statewide database.

There shall be established in the department a Statewide database of protective services, which shall include the following, as provided by section 6336 (relating to information in Statewide database):

(1)  Reports of suspected child abuse pending investigation.

(2)  Reports with a status of pending juvenile court or pending criminal court action.

(3)  Indicated and founded reports of child abuse.

(4)  Unfounded reports of child abuse awaiting expunction.

(5)  Unfounded reports accepted for services.

(6)  Reports alleging the need for general protective services.

(7)  General protective services reports that have been determined to be valid.

(8)  Reports alleging the need for general protective services that have been determined invalid and are awaiting expunction.

(9)  A family case record for all reports accepted for investigation, assessment or services.

(10)  Information on reports made to the agency, but not accepted for investigation or assessment.

(11)  False reports of child abuse pursuant to a conviction under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4906.1 (relating to false reports of child abuse) for the purpose of identifying and tracking patterns of intentionally false reports.

(Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1201, No.119, eff. July 1, 2014; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29, eff. Dec. 31, 2014; May 14, 2014, P.L.653, No.45, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)

 

2014 Amendments.  Act 29 amended the entire section and Act 45 amended par. (11).

Cross References.  Section 6331 is referred to in section 6334 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1992–2023 · leading case: In the Matter of: L.Z., Appeal of: L.Z., 111 A.3d 1164 (Pa. 2015).
In the Matter of: L.Z., Appeal of: L.Z., 111 A.3d 1164 (Pa. 2015). · cites it 2× “See 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331, 6338(a), 6344-6344.2, and 6355.”
Armour Pharmacy v. Bureau of WC Fee Review Hearing Off. (Wegman's Food Markets, Inc.), 206 A.3d 660 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019). “The Child Protective Services Law provided that a perpetrator of child abuse named in an indicated report could have an administrative hearing to challenge the report.”
G.V. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 91 A.3d 667 (Pa. 2014). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331. The burden is on the appropriate county agency to show that the indicated report of abuse is accurate and being maintained in a manner consistent with the CPS Law.”
G.V. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 52 A.3d 434 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331(1), 6334(a), (c), 6335; 55 Pa.”
B.K. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 36 A.3d 649 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331(2), (3). .Section 6341 of the Law states, in pertinent part: (a) General rule.”
In the Int. of: M.M., Appeal of: E.M., 302 A.3d 189 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023). · cites it 2× “- 14 - J-S23016-23 specifically 23 Pa.C.S. § 6331. The finding of child abuse in a dependency proceeding can be appealed to the Superior Court[…].”
Support Ctr. for Child Advocates as G.A.L. for the Minor Child H.M. & H.M., the Minor Child v. DHS, 189 A.3d 497 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331. The burden is on the appropriate county agency to show that the indicated report of abuse is accurate and being maintained in a manner consistent with the [ ] Law.”
J.G. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 795 A.2d 1089 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331(2). 5 . Under the Juvenile Act, a "dependent child” is a child who: (1) is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals.”
Allegheny Cnty. Off. of Child., Youth & Families v. Dep't of Human Servs., 202 A.3d 155 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331(3). Father originally filed two unsigned appeals and, despite the BHA's issuance of two rule to show cause orders directing him to resubmit signed appeals within 10 calendar days in order for his appeals to be considered valid, Father did not do so.”
J. A. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 873 A.2d 782 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “Sections 6331 and 6338(a) of the CPSL, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331, 6338(a). Further, Section 6344(b)(2) of the CPSL provides that child care administrators "shall require [prospective employees] to submit with their [employment] applications .”
Burns v. Alexander, 776 F. Supp. 2d 57 (W.D. Pa. 2011). “” 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 6331 (2), 6332(a). After receiving a “report of suspected child abuse,” a county agency must “commence an appropriate investigation” and meet with the child alleged to have been abused within 24 hours.”
A.P. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 696 A.2d 912 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1997). “See Sections 6331(2) and 6338(a) of the CPSL, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331(2), 6338(a). . CYS’ counsel asserted at the hearing that he was preparing to depose Drs.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6331(1) — 2 cases
G.V. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 52 A.3d 434 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331(1), 6334(a), (c), 6335; 55 Pa.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6331(2) — 5 cases
Armour Pharmacy v. Bureau of WC Fee Review Hearing Off. (Wegman's Food Markets, Inc.), 206 A.3d 660 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019). “The Child Protective Services Law provided that a perpetrator of child abuse named in an indicated report could have an administrative hearing to challenge the report.”
B.K. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 36 A.3d 649 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331(2), (3). .Section 6341 of the Law states, in pertinent part: (a) General rule.”
J.G. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 795 A.2d 1089 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331(2). 5 . Under the Juvenile Act, a "dependent child” is a child who: (1) is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals.”
A.P. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 696 A.2d 912 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1997). “See Sections 6331(2) and 6338(a) of the CPSL, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331(2), 6338(a). . CYS’ counsel asserted at the hearing that he was preparing to depose Drs.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6331(3) — 5 cases
Allegheny Cnty. Off. of Child., Youth & Families v. Dep't of Human Servs., 202 A.3d 155 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6331(3). Father originally filed two unsigned appeals and, despite the BHA's issuance of two rule to show cause orders directing him to resubmit signed appeals within 10 calendar days in order for his appeals to be considered valid, Father did not do so.”
G.V. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 52 A.3d 434 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6331(1), 6334(a), (c), 6335; 55 Pa.”
J.M. v. Dhs (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
J. S. v. Dhs (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019).
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