HB 25-1188

House Bill 25-1188, also known as Mandatory Reporter Task Force Recommendations, updates the rules for people who are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill requires these mandatory reporters to submit reports within 24 hours of learning about potential abuse and clarifies situations where reporting is not necessary, such as when information is received outside their professional role. It also removes victim advocates from the list of professions that must report and ensures that reports cannot be based on a family's background or status. The bill allows employers to create protocols for making these reports but forbids them from discouraging employees from filing reports. Additionally, it requires county human or social services departments to assign unique identification numbers to each report and considers certain follow-up contacts as fulfilling reporting requirements. This bill has been signed into law, meaning its new rules are now in effect.

Official Summary

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.)

Votes