Mandatory Reporter Task Force Recommendations

The bill specifies that child abuse or neglect must not be based solely upon a parent's or child's indigence, unavailability of accessible services, unhoused status, or disability.

For mandatory reporters, the bill:

• Requires reports to be submitted as soon as possible, but within 24 hours, after receiving information of child abuse or neglect; except that reports concerning young victims of dating violence or sexual assault must be made within 72 hours;
• 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 solely 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 bill:

• 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 bill 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 a county department about a suspected child abuse or neglect report and the department gives the mandatory reporter the referral identification number of a related report that was previously filed, the mandatory reporter is not required to file a written report.

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