Amended in Senate August 28, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 652


Introduced by Assembly Member Ammiano

February 21, 2013


An act to add Section 11165.15 to the Penal Code, relating to child abuse.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 652, as amended, Ammiano. Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act: homeless children.

Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, requires a mandated reporter, as defined, to report whenever he or she, in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, has knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect.

This bill would provide that the fact that a child is homeless or is classified as an unaccompanied minor is not, in and of itself, a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 11165.15 is added to the Penal Code, to
2read:

3

11165.15.  

For the purposes of this article, the fact that a child
4is homeless or is classified as an unaccompanied minor, as defined
P2    1in Section 11434a of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless
2Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301 et seq.), is not, in and of
3itself, a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect.begin insert Nothing
4in this section shall limit a mandated reporter, as defined in Section
511165.7, from making a report pursuant to Section 11166 whenever
6the mandated reporter has knowledge of or observes an
7unaccompanied minor whom the mandated reporter knows or
8reasonably suspects to be the victim of abuse or neglect.end insert



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