This book is a compilation of summaries of newly enacted state legislation affecting children and families. It documents legislative activity, emerging trends, and innovative policies in the states, providing information essential to effective policymaking. Part 1 describes the National Conference of State Legislatures' Children and Families Program. The bulk of the book provides summaries of state legislation in the following areas: (1) abuse and neglect, including background checks, prevention and treatment, registries and records, and sexual offender registries; (2) child care and early childhood education, including regulation and licensing, child care in public schools, and support for providers; (3) child mental health; (4) child support enforcement, including court procedures, enforcement techniques, interstate enforcement, and paternity; (5) child welfare, including adoption, family preservation services and permanency plans, foster care, and termination of parental rights; (6) family law, focusing on custody and visitation and domestic law; (7) general legislation related to children, youth, and families; (8) juvenile justice, including financing, jurisdiction, procedures, and weapons offenses; (9) substance abuse and control, including prevention, education, and tobacco use control; (10) welfare reform and public assistance, including eligibility, employment-related policies, family caps, child exclusion, fraud, teen parents, and time limits; and (11) youth at risk, including missing and homeless children, school drop-outs, suspension, school safety, and truancy. Within each category, legislation is listed alphabetically according to state. (KB)