AB 1432, as introduced, Gatto. School employees: child abuse: reporting.
Existing law requires the Office of Child Abuse Prevention to develop and disseminate information to all school districts and district school personnel regarding the detection of child abuse. Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, requires mandated reporters, which includes teachers, to make a report if the person has knowledge of or observes a child whom the person knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect.
This bill would require the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Justice and the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services, to adopt a policy on the reporting requirements for child abuse and the responsibilities of mandated reporters in accordance with the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. The bill would require school personnel to annually review these mandated reporting requirements using an online format, as specified. The bill would require school personnel to submit proof of completing the review to the applicable governing board or body of this school district, county office of education, or charters school within the first 6 weeks of each school year. By expanding the duties of school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 44692 is added to the Education Code,
2to read:
(a) The Department of Education shall, in consultation
4with the Department of Justice and the Office of Child Abuse
5Prevention in the State Department of Social Services, adopt a
6policy on the reporting requirements for child abuse and the
7responsibilities of mandated reporters in accordance with the Child
8Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Article 2.5 (commencing with
9Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code).
10(b) All school personnel shall annually review the mandated
11reporting requirements described in subdivision (a) by using an
12online format established by the Department of Education.
13(c) All school personnel shall submit proof of completing the
14review
required pursuant to subdivision (b) to the applicable
15governing board or body of the school district, county office of
16education, or charter school within the first six weeks of each
17school year.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
19this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
20local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
21pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
224 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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