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2012 SESSION

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SB 239 Child abuse and neglect; mandatory reporting, penalties.

Introduced by: Richard H. Stuart | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Suspected child abuse and neglect; mandatory reporting; penalties.  Adds individuals associated with or employed by any public organization responsible for the care, custody, or control of children and any person employed by a public or private institution of higher education, other than an attorney employed by a public or private institution of higher education who gains information indicating reason to suspect a child is abused or neglected in the course of providing legal representation to a client, to the list of individuals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect; reduces the time limit for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect by mandated reporters from 72 hours to 24 hours; increases the penalty for a second or subsequent failure to report from not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 to a fine of not less than $1,000; provides that, in cases evidencing acts of rape, sodomy, or object sexual penetration, a person who knowingly and intentionally fails to make the required report shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor; and provides that no mandatory reporter shall be required to make a report if the person has actual knowledge that the same matter has already been reported to the local department or via the Department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. This bill incorporates SB 265, SB 296, SB 303, and SB 622.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Suspected child abuse and neglect; mandatory reporting; penalties.  Adds individuals associated with or employed by any public organization responsible for the care, custody, or control of children and any person employed by a public or private institution of higher education to the list of individuals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect; reduces the time limit for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect by mandated reporters from 72 hours to 24 hours; increases the penalty for a second or subsequent failure to report from not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 to a fine of not less than $1,000; provides that, in cases evidencing acts of rape, sodomy, or object sexual penetration, a person who knowingly and intentionally fails to make the required report shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor; and provides that no mandatory reporter shall be required to make a report if the person has actual knowledge that the same matter has already been reported to the local department or via the Department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. This bill incorporates SB 265, SB 296, SB 303 and SB 622.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Suspected child abuse and neglect; mandatory reporting; penalties.  Reduces the time allowed for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect by a mandated reporter from 72 hours to 24 hours and provides that failure to report is punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor for the first failure and a Class 1 misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense. Current law provides for a fine of not more than $500 for a first offense and not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.