110 STAT. 3076 PUBLIC LAW 104-235—OCT. 3, 1996 203(b)(1)(A) for a fiscal year shall establish not less than 1 citizen review panel. "(ii) DESIGNATION OF EXISTING ENTITIES.—A State may designate as panels for purposes of this subsection one or more existing entities established under State or FedergQ law, such as child fatality panels or foster care review panels, if such entities have the capacity to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (4) and the State ensures that such entities will satisfy such requirements. "(2) MEMBERSHIP. — Each panel established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be composed of volunteer members who are broadly representative of the community in which such panel is established, including members who have expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. "(3) MEETINGS. — Each panel established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall meet not less than once every 3 months. "(4) FUNCTIONS.— "(A) IN GENERAL. —Each panel established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, by examining the policies and procedures of State and local agencies and where appropriate, specific cases, evaluate the extent to which the agencies are effectively discharging their child protection responsibilities in accordance with— "(i) the State plan under subsection (b); "(ii) the child protection standards set forth in subsection (b); and "(iii) any other criteria that the panel considers important to ensure the protection of children, including— "(I) a review of the extent to which the State child protective services system is coordinated with the foster care and adoption programs established under part E of title IV of^ the Social Security Act; and "(II) a review of child fatalities and near fatalities (as defined in subsection (b)(4)). " (B) CONFIDENTIALITY.— "(i) IN GENERAL. — The members and staff" of a panel established under paragraph (1)— "(I) shall not disclose to any person or government official any identifying information about any specific child protection case with respect to which the panel is provided information; and "(II) shall not make public other information unless authorized by State statute, "(ii) CIVIL SANCTIONS. —Each State that establishes a panel pursuant to paragraph (1) shall establish civil sanctions for a violation of clause (i). "(5) STATE ASSISTANCE.— Each State that establishes a panel pursuant to paragraph (1)— "(A) shall provide the panel access to information on cases that the panel desires to review if such information is necessary for the panel to carry out its functions under paragraph (4); and "(B) shall provide the panel, upon its request, staff assistance for the performance of the duties of the panel.
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