Child Abuse 2012
On November - 28 - 2012
2012 Introduced State Legislation
Approximately 107 bills in 30 states and the District of Columbia have been introduced in the 2012 legislative session on the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect; 10 of these states have enacted legislation. Click here for NCSL’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting State Statute Overview. Click here to listen to the archived recording of the Reporting Child Abuse: Stopping the Silence Webinar.
National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp
Juvenile Delinquency, Child Abuse – The 2012 Statistical Abstract
| STATE | BILL | BILL SUMMARY | DISPOSITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AL HB 524 | Determines that a parent’s disability is not a consideration for reporting child abuse or neglect. | Failed |
| Alabama | AL HB 604 | Establishes that individuals mandated to report child abuse under the mandatory child abuse reporting provisions shall directly report to a duly constituted authority. | Failed |
| Alabama | AL HB 676 | Requires all persons to report child abuse and neglect if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected. | Failed |
| California | CA AB 1434, Chap. 519 | Adds employees of a public or private institution of higher education, as to child abuse or neglect occurring on that institution’s premises, to the list of individuals who are mandated reporters. | Enacted |
| California | CA AB 1435, Chap. 520 | Adds athletic coach, administrator, or director of a public or private organization to the list of individuals who are mandated reporters under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. | Enacted |
| California | CA AB 1438 | Requires any person who has knowledge of or observes a child whom he or she knows or reasonably suspects has been a victim of sexual abuse to report the known or suspected instance of sexual abuse to a peace officer. Determines that the failure to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected sexual abuse is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail or a fine or both. | In Committee |
| California | CA AB 1564 | Includes volunteers of public or private organizations whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children in the list of individuals who are mandated reporters. The bill would also require employers to provide training in child abuse and neglect identification and reporting to their employees and volunteers who are mandated reporters. Requires the Franchise Tax Board to revoke the exemption of an organization if a person who is a mandated reporter has been found guilty of failure to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child sexual abuse. | In Committee |
| California | CA AB 1628 | Requires any private entity conducting business in the state that has employees, members, agents, licensees, or representatives who are either mandated reporters or whose duties involve close interaction with children on a regular basis to designate an employee to receive complaints of suspected child abuse, and to implement an internal procedure for employees, members, agencies, licensees, or representatives of the private entity to report any incident of suspected child abuse to the designated employee. Specifies that the private entity is prohibited from sanctioning a person for making a report. | Failed |
| California | CA AB 1713, Chap. 517 | Expands the list of mandated reporters of child sexual abuse to commercial film and photographic print or image processors, that includes any person who prepares or prints any representation of information, data, or an image, including, but not limited to, any film, photograph, negative, photocopy, videotape, computer software or computer-generated image. | Enacted |
| California | CA AB 1817, Chap. 521 | Expands the list of persons identified as mandated reporters of child abuse to include commercial computer technicians. Requires a report to be made when such individuals have knowledge of or observe a child being subject to or involved in an act of sexual conduct. | Enacted |
| California | CA SB 1137, Chap. 221 | Requires the electronic registration form filed by the operator of a heritage school to include an acknowledgment that the director of a heritage school and all employees will be mandated reporters under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. | Enacted |
| California | CA SB 1264, Chap. 518 | Includes in the list of individuals who are mandated reporters, under the Child Abuse Neglect and Reporting Act, any athletic coach, including an assistant coach or a graduate assistant involved in coaching at a public or private postsecondary institution. Increases the penalty for failure to report an incident to up to 12 months in a county jail, a fine of $5,000, or both. The bill would increase the penalty for a supervisor or administrator who impedes or inhibits an individual’s reporting duties to not more than 12 months in a county jail, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. The bill would also require that any mandated reporter convicted of willfully failing to report abuse or neglect, or any person who impedes or inhibits a report of abuse or neglect, in violation of reporting requirements, where that abuse or neglect results in death or great bodily injury, be guilty of a felony, punishable by a minimum of one year and a maximum of 5 years in state prison, by a fine of not more than $25,000, or by both. | Enacted |
| California | CA SB 1522, Chap. 666 | Requires a developmental center of residential care to persons with developmental disabilities to immediately report a death, a sexual assault, an assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, or an injury to the genitals or a broken bone when the cause of injury is undetermined, to the local law enforcement agency regardless of whether the Office of Protective Services has investigated the facts and circumstances relating to the incident. | Enacted |
| California | CA SB 1551 | Amends existing state law to require any competent adult to report reasonable suspicion of child sexual abuse. Makes the failure to report child sexual abuse punishable by a range of fines and imprisonment based on the level of the failure. | Failed |
| Connecticut | CT HB 5217 | Requires that any person who is alleged to have knowingly made a false report of child abuse or neglect to be referred to the office of the Chief State’s Attorney for purposes of a criminal investigation. | Pending |
| Connecticut | CT HB 5552 | Strengthens the penalties associated with an individual’s failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. | Failed |
| Connecticut | CT SB 193 | Expands the list of persons who are mandated reporters to include any coach or director of intramural, interscholastic or youth athletics, any coach or director of a private sports organization or team, any administrator, faculty, staff, athletic director, coach or trainer employed by a constituent unit of the state system of higher education or private institution of higher education, and any youth camp administrator. Requires criminal history records check for youth camp staff employees and volunteers. | Failed |
| Delaware | DE HB 243, Chap. 404 | Simplifies the mandatory report requirements for schools through ensuring that the most serious offenses, such as any sexual offense, shall be reported to law enforcement while giving schools discretion to handle minor offenses without mandatory reporting. | Enacted |
| District of Columbia | DC B 647 | Requires the reporting of child sexual abuse to the Metropolitan Police Department, the 911 Emergency Call Center, or the Child and Family Services Agency. Requires without exception that any adult, with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that a child is a victim of sexual abuse, make a report. Establishes criminal penalties for the failure to report. | Pending |
| Florida | FL HB 1355, Chapter 155 |
Determines that any Florida College System institution, state university, or nonpublic college, university, or school whose administrators, faculty, or staff knowingly and willfully fail to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect committed on the property of the institution, university, college, or school, or who knowingly and willfully prevent another person from doing so shall be subject to fines of $1 million for each such failure. The bill would require anyone to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) hotline and would require hotline operators to process all abuse complaints; any calls about abuse other than by caregivers will be forwarded by DCF officials to local authorities. Determines that DCF will promote public awareness of the central abuse hotline through community-based partner organizations and public service campaigns. Requires DCF to collect and analyze reports of child abuse and sexual abuse which are reported from or occurred on the campus of any Florida College System institution, state university, or nonpublic college, university, or school. Requires teachers in grades 1-12 to participate in continuing education training provided by the Department of Children and Family Services on identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect. | Enacted |
| Georgia | GA HB 948 | Defines child service organization personnel, a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse, as a person employed by or volunteering at business or organization that provides care, treatment, education, training, supervision, coaching, counseling, recreational programs, or shelter to children. | Failed |
| Georgia | GA HB 1176, Chapter 709 |
Adds nurse’s aide and reproductive health care facility or pregnancy resource center personnel and volunteers to the list of persons who shall report child abuse if they have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused. Determines that a member of the clergy is not required to report child abuse within the context of a confession or other similar communication required to be kept confidential under church doctrine or practice. However, when a clergy member receives information about child abuse from any other source, they must comply with the reporting requirements. | Enacted |
| Georgia | GA SB 355 | Determines that any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child is abused shall report such information as soon as possible, but no later than 36 hours from the time there is reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused, by telephone to a law enforcement agency. | Failed |
| Hawaii | HI HB 2233 | Companion bill to HI SB 2575. Requires mandatory reporting to the department or to the police department when there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect. | Failed |
| Hawaii | HI SB 2131 | Adds to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect any member of a family who has reached the age of majority and who has knowledge that child abuse or neglect in the family is occurring or has knowledge that a child in the family has been harmed due to abuse or neglect; provided that family members who are victims of domestic violence shall not be required to report child abuse or neglect if the alleged perpetrator is actively abusing both the child and the family member. | Failed |
| Hawaii | HI SB 2575 | Companion bill to HI HB 2233. Requires mandatory reporting to the department or to the police department when there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect. | Failed |
| Idaho | ID SB 1254 | States that any physician, resident on a hospital staff, intern, nurse, coroner, school teacher, day care personnel, social worker or other person having reason to believe that a child under the age of eighteen years has been abused, abandoned or neglected or who observes the child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse, abandonment or neglect shall report within twenty-four hours such conditions or circumstances to the proper law enforcement agency or the department. The department shall be informed by law enforcement of any report made directly to it. When the attendance of a physician, resident, intern, nurse, day care worker or social worker is pursuant to the performance of services as a member of the staff of a hospital or similar institution, he shall notify the person in charge of the institution or his designated delegate who shall make the necessary reports. The law stipulates penalties for failure to report. Determines that any person who has reason to believe that a child has been abused, abandoned or neglected and, acting upon that belief, makes a report of abuse, abandonment or neglect as required shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. |
Failed |
| Illinois | IL HB 3887, Chap. 711 | Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to add personnel of institutions of higher education and athletic program or facility personnel to the list of individuals who shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the Department of Children and Family Services if they have reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused child or a neglected child. | Enacted |
| Illinois | IL HB 3986, Chap. 860 | The agency designated to receive such reports under this Act or the Department may establish a manner in which a mandated reporter can make the required report through an Internet reporting tool. Information sent and received through the Internet reporting tool is subject to the same rules in this Act as other types of confidential reporting established by the designated agency or the Department. | Enacted |
| Illinois | IL HB 4147 | Adds any state employee or employee of any organization that receives State funding to the list of mandated reporters under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. | Pending |
| Illinois | IL HB 4701 | Adds personnel of institutions of higher education, athletic program personnel, and early intervention providers to the list of mandated reporters under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. | Pending |
| Illinois | IL HB 5584 | Requires any person who witnesses a sex offense committed against a child to immediately report the offense to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. | Pending |
| Illinois | IL SB 5678 | Requires that all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be confirmed in a record made and maintained by the Department of Children and Family Services for at least one year regardless of whether the report prompts a formal investigation. Mandates that the record of a report shall include the name of the subject of the report and, if voluntarily provided, the name, address, and phone number of the person who reported the alleged abuse or neglect. | Pending |
| Iowa | IA HB 2131 | Prohibits an employer from taking retaliatory action against an employee as a reprisal for the employee’s participation in good faith in making a child abuse report, photograph, or X ray, or in the performance of a medically relevant test, or aiding and assisting in an assessment of a child abuse report. Requires the Department of Human Services to convene and staff a stakeholder committee to review the training resources for mandatory reporters of child abuse. | Failed |
| Iowa | IA SB 2225, Chap. 1040 | Prohibits an employer from taking retaliatory action against an employee as a reprisal for the employee’s participation in good faith in making a child abuse report, photograph, or X ray, or in the performance of a medically relevant test, or aiding and assisting in an assessment of a child abuse report. Requires the boards of directors for community colleges, accredited private institutions of higher learning, and the board of regents for institutions of higher learning to develop and implement a consistent written policy for an employee who examines, attends, counsels, or treats a child to report suspected physical or sexual abuse. Requires a stakeholder committee, convened by the department of public health, to review the training resources for mandatory reporters of child abuse. | Enacted |
| Indiana | IN SB 267, Chap. 46 | Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with organizations that have expertise in child sexual abuse, to identify or develop model education materials, response policies, and reporting procedures on child sexual abuse. The Department of Education shall make the models developed or identified available to assist schools with the implementation of child sexual abuse education programs in prekindergarten through grade 5 and child sexual abuse response and reporting policies. | Enacted |
| Kansas | KS HB 2533 | Adds to the list of persons required to report suspected child physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect or sexual abuse to include any employee, contractor or administrator of any public or private educational institution in the state who works in a position of authority over a child in an official capacity, if such child is a student enrolled in and attending, or participating in a program or event at such educational institution, any person who works in a position of authority over a child in an official capacity and is employed by or works as a volunteer for a recognized church or religious organization, if such child, child’s parent or other person having lawful custody or child’s siblings are members of or attend services or events at such church or religious organization, and any employee of any municipality or of the state who works in a position of authority over children in an official capacity. Strengthens the penalty for failure to report cases of suspected sexual abuse. Removes the defense that a person believed someone else was going to file the report, unless a report had actually been made, or that a person did not make a report for fear of reprisal or any other consequence. | Failed |
| Kansas | KS SB 362 | Includes licensed addiction counselors and licensed clinical addiction counselors, clergy and religious authorities to the list of persons who shall report physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect or sexual abuse of a child. | Failed |
| Louisiana | LA HB 166, Chap. 380 | Establishes that school coaches, including but not limited to public technical or vocational school, community college, college, or university coaches and coaches of intramural or interscholastic athletics are mandatory reporters for purposes of child abuse. | Enacted |
| Louisiana | LA HB 577, Chapter 268 |
Determines that any person who witnesses the sexual abuse of a child and the person knowingly or willfully fails to report the abuse to law enforcement or to the Department of Children and Family Services shall face specific penalties, including fines and imprisonment. | Enacted |
| Louisiana | LA SB 4, Chap. 614 | Criminalizes the failure to report the sexual abuse of a child. States that any person who witnesses sexual abuse of a child and knowingly and willfully fails to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years, or both. | Enacted |
| Louisiana | LA SB 136 | Requires that the reporting of child abuse and neglect is made through the designated state child protection reporting hotline number. Allows dual reporting to both the Department of Children and Family Services through the designated state child protection reporting hotline number and the local or the state law enforcement agency. | Failed |
| Louisiana | LA SB 158, Chapter 148 |
Provides that no employee shall be discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or discriminated against in any manner in the terms and conditions of his employment because of any lawful act engaged in by the employee, or on behalf of the employee, of any action to report the sexual abuse of a minor child by any fellow employee to law enforcement. | Enacted |
| Louisiana | LA SB 190 | Makes it a felony for any employee of a public postsecondary education institution who witnesses the sexual abuse of a child or student to knowingly and willfully fail to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement or school administration. | Failed |
| Louisiana | LA SB 243, Chap. 638 | Establishes that it is unlawful for any person having knowledge of the commission of any homicide, rape, or sexual abuse of a child to fail to report or disclose such information to a law enforcement agency or district attorney. | Enacted |
| Louisiana | LA SB 357 | Establishes that a mandatory reporter shall face penalties for the knowing and willful failure to report the abuse or neglect of a child. Adds “organizational or youth activity provider” to the list of “mandatory reporters”. | Failed |
| Maryland | MD HB 1067 | Adds medical examiners and parole or probation agents to the list of individuals required to notify the appropriate authorities and make a report if the individual, acting in a professional capacity in the State, has reason to believe a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect. Makes it a misdemeanor for specified professionals to knowingly fail to provide a notice or make a report of suspected child abuse under specified circumstances. | Failed |
| Maryland | MS SB 63 | Adds medical examiners and parole or probation agents to the list of individuals required to notify the appropriate authorities and make a report if the individual has reason to believe a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect. Makes it a misdemeanor for specified professionals to knowingly fail to provide a notice or make a report of suspected child abuse under specified circumstances. | Failed |
| Massachusetts | MA HB 3902 | Expands the Department of Children and Families definition of mandated reporter by adding a state employee who, in his professional capacity, witnesses child abuse, including sexual abuse. | Pending |
| Missouri | MO HB 1102 | Requires any person who observes a child being subjected to sexual abuse to immediately report the abuse in accordance with specified provisions. | Failed |
| Missouri | MO HB 1256 | Creates a joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the “Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect” to be composed of seven members of the senate and seven members of the house of representatives. The join committee shall make a continuing study and analysis of the state child abuse and neglect reporting and investigation system. | Failed |
| Missouri | MO HB 1470 | Expands the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect to includes coaches, scout leaders, youth organization or group leaders, youth activity leader, or any other person in his or her official or volunteer capacity who has direct contact with children. | Failed |
| Missouri | MO HB 1491 | Requires mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect to make a report by removing the option of causing a report to be made. | Failed |
| Missouri | MO HB 1565 | Requires mandatory reporters of child abuse to report only while working or acting in their official capacity and allows, but does not require, reporting when they are off duty. | Failed |
| Missouri | MO SB 457 | Requires any person who observes a child being subjected to sexual abuse to immediately report the abuse in accordance with specified provisions. | Failed |
| Mississippi | MS HB 943 | Creates the Mandated Reporter Training Division within the Administrative Office of Courts. Establishes a special fund in the state treasury known as the Mandated Reporter Training Fund. | Failed |
| Mississippi | MS SB 2087 | Provides for the mandatory reporting of sexual crimes against minors and creates a civil action for failure to make a mandatory report of abuse. | Failed |
| Nebraska | NE LB 839 | Requires reporting of sexual misconduct by a teacher or other school employee within twenty-four hours after receiving the allegation. Any report shall be investigated in accordance with the Child Protection Act for the purpose of determining whether or not the allegation is substantiated. | Failed |
| Nebraska | NE LB 993 | Determines that each child abuse and neglect investigation team shall include procedures for mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect to include training to professionals on identification and reporting of abuse, assigning roles and responsibilities between law enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Services for the initial response or the report of abuse, and outlining how reports will be shared between law enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Services. | Enacted |
| New Hampshire | NH HB 1249 | Requires an employee or volunteer of an organization who suspects another employee or volunteer of child sexual abuse to make a report under the state’s child abuse reporting law. Establishes an enhanced criminal penalty for a supervisor who fails to report an employee or volunteer of suspected child sexual abuse. | Failed |
| New Jersey | NJ AB 4396 | Companion bill to NJ SB 3143. Requires that a person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been sexually abused to immediately report that abuse to law enforcement officials. Provides that a person’s failure to report an act of sexual abuse or any sexual offense against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse or the sexual offense has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. | Pending |
| New Jersey | NJ SB 3143 | Companion bill to NJ AB 4396 Requires that a person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been sexually abused to immediately report that abuse to law enforcement officials. Provides that a person’s failure to report an act of sexual abuse or any sexual offense against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse or the sexual offense has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. | Pending |
| New York | NY AB 8816 | Companion bill to SB 3511. Establishes acupuncturists as mandatory reporters of suspected cases of child abuse and maltreatment. | Pending |
| New York | NY AB 8901 | Requires school athletic directors, school coaches, and school assistant coaches to report cases of suspected child abuse. | Pending |
| New York | NY AB 8905 | Companion bill NY SB 6086. Requires college coaches, athletic directors, professors, graduate assistants, college administrators, college presidents, and paid individuals who may interact with children through employment at summer or overnight camps among those required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment. | Pending |
| New York | NY AB 9617 | Requires the posting of a visible notice in group homes for the developmentally disabled stating that New York law mandates the reporting of all forms of abuse to local law enforcement and district attorneys. Ensures that all employees are properly trained with regard to the reporting requirements for all forms of abuse. | Pending |
| New York | NY SB 1308 | Details the persons required to report to an appropriate law enforcement agency when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused child to include: any physician; registered physician assistant; surgeon; medical examiner; coroner; dentist; dental hygienist; osteopath; optometrist; chiropractor; podiatrist; resident; intern; psychologist; registered nurse; emergency medical technician; hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of persons; member of the clergy; a Christian Science practitioner; school official; social services worker; day care center worker; provider of family or group family day care; employee or volunteer in a residential care facility or any other child care or foster care worker; mental health professional; substance abuse counselor; alcoholism counselor; peace officer; police officer; district attorney or assistant district attorney; investigator employed in the office of a district attorney; or other law enforcement official. Outlines penalties for failure to report a case of suspected child abuse. | Pending |
| New York | NY SB 3511 | Companion bill to AB 8816. Establishes acupuncturists as mandatory reporters of suspected cases of child abuse and maltreatment | Pending |
| New York | NY SB 5119 | Requires members of the clergy to report suspected allegations of child abuse or maltreatment to an appropriate law enforcement agency. Requires members of the clergy to review past institutional records and report suspected allegations of child abuse by clergy to the district attorney. Reports of suspected child abuse shall be made immediately by telephone or by telephone facsimile to an appropriate law enforcement agency and followed by a report in writing within twenty-four hours. | Pending |
| New York | NY SB 6030 | Establishes the class E felony of failure to report child abuse for the failure to report to law enforcement officials the commission of any crime against a child under the age of 16. | Pending |
| New York | NY SB 6048 | Requires immediate reporting of suspected child abuse to an appropriate law enforcement agency. Determines that failure to report suspected child abuse is a class A misdemeanor. | Pending |
| New York | NY SB 6086 | Companion bill BY AB 8905. Requires college coaches, athletic directors, professors, graduate assistants, college administrators, college presidents, and paid individuals who may interact with children through employment at summer or overnight camps among those required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment. | Pending |
| Oregon | OR HB 4016, Chap. 92 | Adds employee or volunteer of organization providing child-related services or activities, employee of higher education institution, coach, assistant coach or trainer of child athlete and individual who provides guidance, instruction or training in youth development activity, and youth camps, to list of public and private officials required to report child abuse. | Enacted |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 1895 | Permits exceptions to governmental immunity for child sexual abuse acts committed by individuals employee by a public institution, agency or other legal entity. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 1990 | Adds school staff member, school faculty, coach to the list of persons required to report suspected child abuse. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 1999 | Requires individuals who have firsthand or secondhand knowledge of or reasonable cause to believe a child is being sexually abused to report the suspected child sexual abuse to law enforcement officials as soon as is practical. Except for clergy-penitent and attorney-client confidential communications, the privileged communication between any professional person and the patient or client of that person shall not apply to situations involving child sexual abuse and shall not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by this chapter.Allows a person who has, in good faith, reported suspected child sexual abuse and who, as a result of the report, is discharged from his or her employment or discriminated against in his or her employment, to commence an action in the court of common pleas of the county in which the alleged unlawful discharge or discrimination occurred for appropriate relief. If the court finds that the person was discharged or discriminated against in his or her employment as a result of the report, the court may issue an order granting appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, reinstatement with back pay. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 2026 | Requires that licensing boards for professionals mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect require those professionals to submit documentation of the completion of at least two hours of approved continuing education training, per licensing cycle, on the identification and reporting of child abuse. Allows exemption from training if the licensee’s practice excludes contact with children. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 2046 | Whenever a person is required to report suspected child abuse or neglect in the capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, that person shall have the responsibility and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made if that person has personally witnessed an act or acts the person reasonably believes constitutes suspected child abuse. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 2047 | Increases the penalties for mandatory reporter failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The penalty for failure to report suspected child abuse increases from a third degree misdemeanor to a second degree for the first violation and from a second degree misdemeanor to a first degree for a subsequent violation. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA HB 2048 | Increases the penalties for mandatory reporter failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The penalty for failure to report suspected child abuse increases from a third degree misdemeanor to a second degree for the first violation and from a second degree misdemeanor to a first degree for a subsequent violation. Allows a prosecution for failure to report to be commenced within three years after the discovery of a willful failure to report or refer. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA SB 1413 | Increases the penalties for mandatory reporters’ failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The penalty for failure to report suspected child abuse increases from a third degree misdemeanor to a first degree for the first violation and from a second degree misdemeanor to a third degree for a second or subsequent violation. | Pending |
| Pennsylvania | PA SB 449, Chap. 2012-126 | Provides for recognition and reporting training for school entities and independent contractors of schools and their employees to address recognition of abuse and sexual misconduct, mandatory reporting policies | Enacted |
| South Carolina | SC HB 4428 | Requires any person to report suspected child abuse or neglect. | Pending |
| South Carolina | SC SB 1054 | Sec. 1: Adds school employee or independent contractor, coach, camp counselor, animal control officer, firefighter, or any other employee or volunteer of a public or private organization whose duties require direct contact or supervision of children to the list of persons required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Defines school to mean any public or privately operated child care agency, preschool, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, or public or private institution of higher education. Requires any person who has received information which gives the person reason to believe that a child has been or may be sexually or physically abused as defined by the laws of the State to report the abuse. Requires board members, chief executive officers, directors, other heads of organizations, administrators, and supervisors who have reason to believe that a child has been or may be abused or neglected by a staff member or under the auspices of the organization to report to law enforcement. States that mandatory reporters who report abuse or neglect to a supervisor or person in charge of an institution, school, facility, or agency are not relieved of the individual duty to report. The Department of Social Services must establish, operate, and publicize a twenty-four hour, statewide, toll-free telephone service to receive reports. | Pending |
| South Carolina | SC SB 1346 | Adds school or college administrator, coach, volunteer who works with children as a camp counselor, scout leader, and mentor to the list of persons required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. | Pending |
| South Dakota | SD HB 1264 | Amends the mandatory reporting requirements regarding child abuse to include any professional, or person who has contact with a child through the performance of services as a support staff member, working within or in conjunction with a hospital, health and wellness or medical clinic, mental health provider, child protection agency, religious function or organization, parole or court services, law enforcement, school or school related organization, registered day care, domestic abuse shelter, chemical dependency center, coroner’s office, or any other business, agency, or organization that offers helping services to children, who have reasonable cause to suspect that a child under the age of eighteen has been abused or neglected shall report the information. | Failed |
| South Dakota | SD SB 154,Chapter 146 | Add employees or volunteers of a child advocacy organization or child welfare service provider, to the list of people specified as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse involving any child under 18. | Enacted |
| Virginia | VA HB 3, Chap. 391 | Adds athletic coach, director or other person employed by or volunteering with a private sports organization or team and administrators, employees, or volunteers of public or private day camps, youth centers and youth recreation programs to the list of persons required to report child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services. | Enacted |
| Virginia | VA HB 4 | Adds athletic coaches and directors in public or private schools or in institutions of higher education to the list of persons required to report child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services. | Failed |
| Virginia | VA HB 74, Chapter 740 |
Establishes that if an initial report of suspected abuse or neglect is made to the person in charge of an institution or department, or his designee, the person shall notify the individual making the initial report when the report of suspected child abuse or neglect is made to the local department or to the Department of Social Services’ toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline and shall forward any communication resulting from the report to the individual who made the initial report. Reduces the time limit for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect by mandated reporters from 72 hours to 24 hours. | Enacted |
| Virginia | VA HB 215 | 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 1 misdemeanor for the first failure and a Class 6 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Current law imposes 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. | Failed |
| Virginia | VA HB 970, Chap. 698 | Adds any person employed by a public or private institution of higher education to the list of individuals required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. | Enacted |
| Virginia | VA HB 1237, Chap. 728 | Expands the list of who a report of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be made to include a law-enforcement agency. Adds individuals employed by a public or private organization responsible for the care, custody or control of children to the list of individuals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Reduces the time allowed for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect by a mandated reporter from 72 hours to 24 hours. Establishes that no person shall be required to make a report of suspected abuse if the person has actual knowledge that the same matter has already been reported to the local department or the Department of Social Services’ toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. | Enacted |
| Virginia | VA HB 1266 | Determines that any person who fails to report within 72 hours of his first suspicion of child abuse or neglect is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. | Failed |
| Virginia | VA SB 239, Chapter 815 |
Adds individuals employed by a public or private 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 allowed for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect by a mandated reporter from 72 hours to 24 hours. Establishes that no person shall be required to make a report of suspected abuse if the person has actual knowledge that the same matter has already been reported to the local department or the Department of Social Services’ toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. | Enacted |
| Virginia | VA SB 265 | Adds athletic coaches and directors in public or private schools or in institutions of higher education to the list of persons required to report child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services. | Failed |
| Virginia | VA SB 296 | 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 1 misdemeanor for the first failure and a Class 6 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Current law imposes 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. | Failed |
| Virginia | VA SB 303 | Adds any person employed by a public or private institution of higher education to the list of individuals required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. | Failed |
| Virginia | VA SB 622 | Adds individuals employed by a public or private institution of higher education and any other person with responsibility for the care, control, or custody of children to the list of individuals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Determines that any person who fails to report within 72 hours of his first suspicion of child abuse or neglect is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. | Failed |
| Vermont | VT SB 113,Chapter 2012-156 | Proposes to require independent schools to comply with the same training as school districts with respect to the prevention, identification, and reporting of child sexual abuse and sexual violence, and to add headmasters of independent schools to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. | Enacted |
| Washington | WA HB 2331 | Requires mandatory reporters to also report any suspicion of sever child neglect. Defines “severe abuse or neglect” as any of the following: any act of abuse of sufficient severity that causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture, or unconsciousness; any act or acts of withholding basic necessities of life that create or cause an imminent risk of substantial bodily harm; or any act of intentionally touching the sexual or other intimate parts of a child for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire. | Failed |
| Washington | WA SB 5991 b, Chap. 55 | Requires administrative and academic or athletic department employees, including student employees, of institutions of higher education, and of private institutions of higher education who have reasonable cause to believe a child has suffered abuse or neglect, to report the abuse or neglect immediately. The law also requires employees of institutions of higher education, not considered academic or athletic department employees, who have reasonable cause to believe a child has suffered abuse or neglect, must report such abuse or neglect immediately to the appropriate administrator or supervisor, as designated by the institution. The administrator or supervisor to whom the report was made, if not already a mandatory reporter, must report the abuse or neglect within forty-eight hours to a mandatory reporter designated by the institution. | Enacted |
| West Virginia | WV HB 4065 | Adds youth camp administrators, camp counselors, employees and volunteers of entities that provide organized activities for children and commercial film or photographic print processors as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. Increases criminal penalties for failing to report child abuse. Provides funding for educational programs for reporting and preventing child abuse and neglect. | Failed |
| West Virginia | WV HB 4240 | Adds youth camp administrator or counselor, employee or volunteer of an entity that provides organized activities for children or commercial film or photographic print processor who to the list of persons mandated to report abuse and neglect of children. Provides funding for educational programs for reporting and preventing child abuse and neglect. | Failed |
| West Virginia | WV SB 161,Chapter 27 | Adds youth camp administrator or counselor, employee, coach or volunteer of an entity that provides organized activities for children, or commercial film or photographic print processor to the list of persons mandated to report abuse and neglect of children. Adds any person over the age of eighteen who has actual knowledge of or observes any sexual abuse or sexual assault of a child to the list of mandated reporters who shall immediately, and not more than forty-eight hours after obtaining actual knowledge of or observing the sexual abuse or sexual assault, report the circumstances or cause a report to be made to the State Police or other law-enforcement agency. Creates an educational and training for persons required to report suspected abuse or neglect and for the general public to include indicators of child abuse and neglect, tactics used by sexual abusers, how and when to make a report, and protective factors that prevent abuse and neglect in order to promote adult responsibility for protecting children. | Enacted |
| Wisconsin | WI AB 714 | Makes professors, administrators, coaches, and other employees of any public, private, or tribal postsecondary educational institution mandatory child abuse and neglect reporters. | Failed |
| Wisconsin | WI SB 42, Chap. 81 | No person making a report of suspected child abuse in good faith may be discharged from employment, disciplined or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or threatened with any such treatment for so doing. Each school board shall require every employee of the school district to receive training provided by the department in identifying children who have been abused or neglected and in the laws and procedures governing the reporting of suspected or threatened child abuse and neglect. A school district employee shall receive that training within the first 6 months after commencing employment with the school district and at least once every 5 years after that initial training. | Enacted |
By the time you finish reading this, 15 children will have been abused; In the next five minutes, 30 more; Within the next hour, 360 more; And by tonight, close to 8,000+ children will have suffered from abuse, 5 of which will die. Child abuse has increased 134% since 1980 and is now considered a worldwide epidemic. The high jump in child abuse deaths and the shocking increase in statistics highlights the frightening lack of public knowledge.
Educate Yourself -- Learn the Facts
It May Just Save a Child's Life!!
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