Vermont Statutes Annotated

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 33, § 4911 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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Subchapter 002 : REPORTING ABUSE OF CHILDREN

(Cite as: 33 V.S.A. § 4911)

§ 4911. Purpose

The purpose of this subchapter is to:

(1) protect children whose health and welfare may be adversely affected through abuse or neglect;

(2) strengthen the family and make the home safe for children whenever possible by enhancing the parental capacity for good child care;

(3) provide a temporary or permanent nurturing and safe environment for children when necessary; and for these purposes require the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect, an assessment or investigation of such reports and provision of services, when needed, to such child and family;

(4) establish a range of responses to child abuse and neglect that take into account different degrees of child abuse or neglect and that recognize that child offenders should be treated differently from adults;

(5) establish a tiered child protection registry that balances the need to protect children and the potential employment consequences of a registry record for a person’s conduct that is substantiated for child abuse and neglect; and

(6) ensure that in the Department for Children and Families’ efforts to protect children from abuse and neglect, the Department also ensures that investigations are thorough, unbiased, based on accurate and reliable information weighed against other supporting or conflicting information, and adhere to due process requirements. (Added 1981, No. 207 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 25, 1982; amended 2007, No. 168 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2023, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. September 1, 2024.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: Tina Stocker v. State of Vermont, 2021 VT 71 (Vt. 2021).

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Tina Stocker v. State of Vermont, 2021 VT 71 (Vt. 2021). · cites it 2× “First, DCF breached a common-law duty to plaintiffs by failing to meet its statutory obligations under 33 V.S.A. §§ 4911- 4915. Second, plaintiffs contend that DCF undertook to protect W.”

Kaho'ohanohano ex rel. Morales-Kaho'ohanohano v. Dep't of Human Servs., 178 P.3d 538 (Haw. 2008). “Further, the stated purposes of the provisions requiring SRS to investigate reports of child abuse and render appropriate services are to “protect children whose health and welfare may be adversely affected through abuse or neglect,” to “strengthen the family and make the home…”

Earle v. State, 2006 VT 92 (Vt. 2006). · cites it 2× “2d at 1192 (citing and quoting 33 V.S.A. § 4911) (internal quotations omitted).”

Sabia v. State, 669 A.2d 1187 (Vt. 1995). “” 33 V.S.A. § 4911. Thus, it is beyond dispute that the relevant statutory provisions create a duty on the part of SRS to assist a particular class of persons to which plaintiffs belong and to prevent the type of harm suffered by plaintiffs.”

In re Appeal of H.H., 2020 VT 107 (Vt. 2020). “§ 4916a(c)(1) (allowing person alleged to have abused or neglected child to seek administrative review of DCF’s intention to place name on Registry).”

In re Appeal of M.V., 2022 VT 31 (Vt. 2022). “” 33 V.S.A. § 4911(1). We discern nothing in the Board’s interpretation contravening the statute’s purpose.”

In re M.M., Juv., 2024 VT 28 (Vt. 2024). ““Substantiated reports are placed in the Child Protection Registry, the purpose of which is to safeguard children by allowing certain individuals working in fields involving contact with children to access a list of persons substantiated for child abuse or neglect.”

In Re Appeal of M.R., 2025 VT 6 (Vt. 2025). “3d at 1003 ; see also 33 V.S.A. § 4911 (2021) (outlining purpose of statute, including “protect[ing] children whose health and welfare may be adversely affected through abuse or neglect”).”

Johnson v. State of Vermont Dep't of Health, 682 A.2d 961 (Vt. 1996). “In this case, we cannot perceive any duty that the Department owed to persons such as plaintiffs, as distinct from the public at large.”

In re K.R., 199 Vt. 191 (Vt. 2015). “See 33 V.S.A. § 4911 (stating purposes of subchapter on reporting abuse of children).”

Johnson v. State Dept. of Health, 682 A.2d 961 (Vt. 1996). “We concluded that it was "beyond dispute" that SRS had a duty "to assist a particular class of persons to which plaintiffs belong and to prevent the type of harm suffered by plaintiffs." Id. In this case, we cannot perceive any duty that the Department owed to persons such as…”

Perrin v. Wssu (Vt. Super. Ct. 2025). “Instructing at least one employee under Perrin’s authority not to make a report under 33 V.S.A. § 4911 et seq. when she and another employee believed in their professional capacities that a mandatory report was required.”

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— Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 33, § 4911(1) — 1 case

In re Appeal of M.V., 2022 VT 31 (Vt. 2022). “” 33 V.S.A. § 4911(1). We discern nothing in the Board’s interpretation contravening the statute’s purpose.”

— Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 33, § 4911(5) — 2 cases

In re Appeal of H.H., 2020 VT 107 (Vt. 2020). “§ 4916a(c)(1) (allowing person alleged to have abused or neglected child to seek administrative review of DCF’s intention to place name on Registry).”

In re M.M., Juv., 2024 VT 28 (Vt. 2024). ““Substantiated reports are placed in the Child Protection Registry, the purpose of which is to safeguard children by allowing certain individuals working in fields involving contact with children to access a list of persons substantiated for child abuse or neglect.”

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