BILL NUMBER: SB 332	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Block

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act to amend Section 11165.9 of the Penal Code, relating to
child abuse reporting.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 332, as introduced, Block. Child abuse reporting.
   Existing law requires a mandated reporter, as defined, to report
suspected child abuse or neglect to a police department or sheriff's
department, not including a school district police or security
department, county probation department, if designated by the county
to receive mandated reports, or the county welfare department.
   This bill would additionally authorize a mandated reporter to make
those reports to a school district police department.
   By imposing additional duties on a school district, this bill
would create 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 1.  Section 11165.9 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
   11165.9.  Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be
made by mandated reporters, or in the case of reports pursuant to
Section 11166.05, may be made, to any  of the  
following: 
    (1)     A    police 
department or   department. 
    (2)     A  sheriff's 
department, not including a   department. 
    (3)     A  school district police
 or security  department,  not including a 
 school district security department. 
    (4)     A  county probation
department, if designated by the county to receive mandated 
reports, or the   reports. 
    (5)     The  county welfare
department.  Any 
    (b)     Any  of those agencies shall
accept a report of suspected child abuse or neglect whether offered
by a mandated reporter or another person, or referred by another
agency, even if the agency to whom the report is being made lacks
subject matter or geographical jurisdiction to investigate the
reported case, unless the agency can immediately electronically
transfer the call to an agency with proper jurisdiction. When an
agency takes a report about a case of suspected child abuse or
neglect in which that agency lacks jurisdiction, the agency shall
immediately refer the case by telephone, fax, or electronic
transmission to an agency with proper jurisdiction.  Agencies

    (c)     Agencies  that are required to
receive reports of suspected child abuse or neglect may not refuse
to accept a report of suspected child abuse or neglect from a
mandated reporter or another person unless otherwise authorized
pursuant to this section, and shall maintain a record of all reports
received.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.