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2004 SESSION


CHAPTER 752
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-291.3, relating to notice of duty to report child abuse or neglect.
[H 1038]
Approved April 12, 2004

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-291.3 as follows:

§ 22.1-291.3. Notice of duty to report child abuse or neglect.

Each public school board and each administrator of every private or parochial school shall post, in each of their schools, a notice, pursuant to § 63.2-1509, that: (i) any teacher or other person employed in a public or private school who has reason to suspect that a child is an abused or neglected child, including any child who may be abandoned, is required to report such suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to local or state social services agencies or the person in charge of the relevant school or his designee; and (ii) all persons required to report cases of suspected child abuse or neglect are immune from civil or criminal liability or administrative penalty or sanction on account of such reports unless such person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose. The notice shall also include the Virginia Department of Social Services' toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.

2. That the notice required by § 22.1-291.3 shall be prepared and distributed to each school board by the office of the Attorney General. Further, the Attorney General shall also furnish, upon request, such notice to any private school.