Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
Public Law 93-247 · S. 1191 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Jan 31, 1974 · Families
Sponsor: Sen. Walter Mondale (D-MN)
Cosponsors (18): Sen. Harrison Williams, Sen. Jennings Randolph,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act - Establishes a National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect to monitor research, maintain a clearinghouse on child abuse programs, and compile and publish training materials for persons working in the field.
Establishes a program of demonstration grants to be used in training personnel in the field of medicine, law and social work and to support innovative projects aimed at preventing or treating child abuse or neglect. Provides that not less than 50 percent of the funds appropriated under the Act for any fiscal year must be reserved for demonstration programs and projects authorized under this Act.
States that of the sums appropriated under the Act, not less than 5 percent and not more than 20 percent may be used for grants to the States for programs authorized by the Act.
Makes provisions for a State to qualify for assistance under the Act.
Provides authorizations for fiscal years 1974 through 1977 of, respectively, $15,000,000; $20,000,000 $25,000,000 and $25,000,000.
Directs to be made a complete and full study and investigation of the national incidence of child abuse and neglect, including a determination of the extent to which incidents of child abuse and neglect are increasing in number or severity.
Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to promulgate regulations and make such arrangements as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that there is effective coordination between programs related to child abuse and neglect under this Act and other such programs which are assisted by Federal funds.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Jan 31, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-247.
- Jan 21, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 21, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Dec 20, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Dec 3, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #615 (354-36).House roll call 615
- Nov 30, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Education and Workforce Committee
- Jul 16, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
- Jul 14, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #291 (57-7).Senate roll call 291
- Jul 10, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Mar 13, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.