Mandatory Reporter Task Force Recommendations

For persons required to report child abuse or neglect, the act:

• Requires reports to be submitted as soon as possible, but within 24 hours, after receiving information of child abuse or neglect;
• Provides that reports are not required if the person:
• Receives the information outside of the person's professional capacity that would require a report; or
• Is connected to an attorney representing a party involved in a suspected child abuse or neglect case that would require a report under current law;
• Removes victim's advocates from the list of professions required to report child abuse or neglect;
• Prohibits reports based on a family's race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or disability; and
• Prohibits the delegation of the duty to report to a person who does not have firsthand knowledge of the suspected child abuse or neglect.

For entities that employ a mandatory reporter, the act:

• Authorizes the entity to develop protocols for making the report if the protocols comply with state law and regulations; and
• Prohibits representatives of the entity from deterring or impeding a person from filing a report.

The act requires a county department of human or social services (county department) to assign a referral identification number to each report of child abuse or neglect. If a mandatory reporter contacts the child abuse reporting hotline system (hotline) or a county department about a suspected child abuse or neglect report and the hotline or department gives the mandatory reporter the referral identification number of a related report that was previously filed, the mandatory reporter is deemed to have satisfied the reporting requirements.

The act appropriates $5,375 to the state department of human services for training.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)