1. (a) Except for central registry searches conducted under RSA 169-C:34, II and RSA 169-C:35, I, requests to search the central registry shall be made in writing and contain the following information for the individual to be searched:

   1. (1) Name;
   2. (2) Date of birth;
   3. (3) Current physical and mailing addresses;
   4. (4) All previous names or aliases;
   5. (5) Instructions on where to return the written results;
   6. (6) The individual’s signature; and
   7. (7) Proof of identity of the individual to be searched authorizing the search pursuant to RSA 169-C:35, II.

2. (b) Any individual requesting to receive the results of their own central registry check shall meet the requirements in (a) above by submitting a completed, dated, and signed Form 2500 “NH Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Authorization for Individual Name Search” (May 2025), in accordance with (l) below, that includes the following request and acknowledgement:

   “I hereby request the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a search of the New Hampshire Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry to determine if my name is listed as an individual found responsible for child abuse or neglect in NH.”; and

   “I acknowledge that NH RSA 169-C:35 states it shall be unlawful for any employer to require my name to be reviewed against the Central Registry, as a condition of employment in New Hampshire, unless specified in NH RSA 170-E or NH RSA 170-G:8-c.”

3. (c) In addition to the requirements in (b) above, the requestor shall verify proof of identity by obtaining a notary acknowledgement when signing Form 2500.

4. (d) If an individual requesting to receive the results of their own central registry check is listed in the founded reports maintained in the central registry, the department shall:

   1. (1) Provide the individual with the date or dates the individual’s name was entered on the central registry and the mailing address of the district office that made the finding or findings; and
   2. (2) Inform the individual that additional case record information may be accessed through the district office that made the founded determination by submitting a separate request directly to that district office.

5. (e) An individual seeking employment with an employer specified in RSA 170-G:8-c requesting a third party receive the results of their central registry check shall meet the requirements in (a) by submitting a completed, dated, and signed Form 2501 “NH Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Authorization for Name Search and Release of Information to a Third Party” ( May 2025), in accordance with (l) below that includes the following authorization:

   “I authorize a search of the NH Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry to determine if my name is listed as an individual found responsible for child abuse or neglect in NH. I consent to the release of the information to the person and agency named above for the purpose indicated. I understand that the results will not be sent to me.”

6. (f) In addition to the requirements in (e) above, the requestor shall provide one of the following as proof of identity on Form 2501 when signing Form 2501 in the respective sections:

   1. (1) A notary acknowledgement;

   2. (2) A completed attestation signed and dated by an employer or the employer’s representative stating:

      “I attest the named individual presented me with the documents required to legally submit an I-9 form on their behalf.”; or

   3. (3) A completed attestation signed and dated by department or contracted vendor staff stating:

      “I attest the named individual presented me an unexpired government issued photo identification.”

7. (g) If any individual whose name has been submitted for a central registry check under RSA 170-G:8-c is the subject of a founded report of child abuse or neglect, the department shall provide the records related to the founded report to the hiring manager for the purpose of conducting an investigation in accordance with RSA 170-G:8-c, IV and V while carrying out their official functions. Information obtained shall be kept confidential pursuant to RSA 170-G:8-a, II and III(g), and shall not be disclosed or released unless otherwise required by law or court order.
8. (h) Any individual applying to be a foster or adoptive parent shall complete and submit Form 2501 “NH Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Authorization for Name Search and Release of Information to a Third Party” ( May 2025), in accordance with (l) below, to have the individual’s name checked against the central registry.

9. (i) Any individual applying to be a foster or adoptive parent through another state’s child welfare agency responsible for licensing foster and adoptive care applicants shall:

   1. (1) Submit Form 2501 “NH Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Authorization for Name Search and Release of Information to a Third Party” (May 2025), to be completed and mailed in accordance with (l) below, to have the individual’s name checked against the central registry in compliance with RSA 169-C:35, VI; or
   2. (2) Submit a central registry check request on the other states’ agency letterhead pursuant to procedures allowed by 42 USC 671 (a)(20), known as an “Adam Walsh” check.
10. (j) Pursuant to RSA 170-B:18, VI, any petitioner for adoption, in which no private adoption agency has completed a central registry check, shall submit to the circuit court an official current New Hampshire judicial branch form “Department of Health and Human Services Record Release Authorization” (NHJB-2171-FP), to be completed and mailed in accordance with (l) below, to have the petitioner’s name checked against the central registry.
11. (k) Pursuant to RSA 463:5, IV(b), any petitioner for guardianship shall submit to the circuit court a completed official current New Hampshire judicial branch form “Department of Health and Human Services Record Release Authorization” (NHJB-2171-FP), mailed in accordance with (l) below, to have the petitioner’s name checked against the central registry.

12. (l) All forms above shall be:

    1. (1) Signed and dated by the individual to be checked, with the signature affixed within one year of submission of the form to the central registry;

    2. (2) Delivered to:

       NH DCYF Central Registry

       129 Pleasant Street, Thayer Building

       Concord, NH 03301; and

    3. (3) Accompanied by a postage paid self-addressed envelope unless alternative arrangements have been agreed upon by the requestor and the department.

13. (m) Any request submitted to the department that is not completed as required in (a)-(h) above shall be returned as follows:

    1. (1) Any request that is submitted to the department with incomplete, invalid, or illegible information shall be returned to the submitting entity without being checked against the central registry;
    2. (2) Any request identifying a third-party agency to receive the results that does not meet the requirements of RSA 169-C:35, II, RSA 170-B:18, RSA 170-E:7, RSA 170-E:29, RSA 170-G:8-c, or RSA 463:5 shall not be sent the results of the central registry check; and
    3. (3) Any materials, including but not limited to payments or incomplete forms and requests shall be returned to the submitting entity.

Source. #10692, eff 10-14-14; ss by #14249, eff 5-10-25, EXPIRES: 5-10-35