Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 - P.L. 98-457

Date: October 1984

Overview

H.R. 1904
Enacted October 9, 1984

Major Provisions of the Act

  • Required States to have in place procedures with State protective systems to respond to reports of medical neglect, including instances of withholding medically indicated treatment from disabled infants with life-threatening conditions
  • Directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop regulations and to provide training and technical assistance needed by care providers to carry out the provisions of the act
  • Required State-level programs to facilitate adoption opportunities for disabled infants with life-threatening conditions
  • Provided for the establishment and operation of a Federal adoption and foster care data-gathering and analysis system
  • Provided for a national adoption exchange to match children with special needs with prospective adoptive families