1158

Before ruling on any incident in a protection case, the court shall have a report before it including the minor’s information, his/her relatives, their circumstances, and any other information that shall allow the court to properly rule in the best interests of the minor.\nIn any judicial proceedings related to protection cases referred to in this chapter, the court shall consider social and medical expert reports as evidence.\nFamily Services Technicians and social workers of the Department, as well as experts and/or physicians who have treated or evaluated a minor, shall file their reports with the court and with the Advocate for Family Affairs within a period of at least ten (10) days prior to any scheduled hearing. Medical reports, as well as the social report, shall be confidential unless the court finds that there is just cause to disclose the information. The legal representatives of the parties shall be notified with copies of the reports for their examination on the same date they are submitted. Said reports shall be admitted into evidence pursuant to the provisions of the Rules of Evidence of Puerto Rico.

with copies of the reports for their examination on the same date they are submitted. Said reports shall be admitted into evidence pursuant to the provisions of the Rules of Evidence of Puerto Rico. The parties entitled to obtain copies of the reports shall be responsible for keeping their contents strictly confidential and shall limit their use to the procedure established by virtue of this chapter.\nHistory —Dec. 16, 2011, No. 246, § 48, eff. 90 days after Dec. 16, 2011.