This document is a compilation of legislation on issues critical to children and families enacted during 1997 by the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The laws pertaining to various issues are listed by state and briefly described. Issues are: (1) abuse and neglect (including background checks and screening, court procedures, financing, legal representation, prevention, treatment, training, reporting, sexual abuse and exploitation, and sexual offenders' registries); (2) child care and early childhood education (including administration, financing, regulation, and licensing); (3) child welfare (including administration, adoption, family preservation, out-of-home placement, and termination of parental rights); (4) family law (including custody, visitation, and divorce); (5) general issues such as administration, family support, and interagency coordination; (6) juvenile justice (including administration, penalties, financing procedures, and records); (7) substance abuse and control (including administration, detection, license revocation, penalties, and prevention); (8) welfare reform and public assistance (including eligibility and benefit levels, fraud, and minor parents); and (9) youth at risk (including missing and runaway children, and school policies and truancy). (HTH)