BILL NUMBER: AB 776 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 1, 2005
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 30, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 24, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 11, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 6, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 28, 2005
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chu
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Cohn)
FEBRUARY 18, 2005
An act to amend Sections 11165.9 and 11166 of the Penal Code,
relating to child abuse reporting.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 776, Chu Child abuse reporting.
Existing law requires certain persons to report incidents of
suspected child abuse to specified agencies by telephone and also by
written report thereof within 36 hours.
This bill would require those agencies to keep a record of all
reports received. This bill would permit those written reports to be
made via fax or electronic transmission. This bill would also specify
that if after reasonable efforts, a mandated reporter is unable to
submit a report by telephone, he or she shall immediately or as soon
as is practicably possible make a one-time automated written report
and be available to respond to telephone followup by the agency with
which he or she filed the report, as specified. This bill would
provide that these reports would be captured in the Child Welfare
Services/Case Management System and would provide that these
provisions would not become operative until that system is updated as
necessary and would become inoperative 3 years thereafter or on
January 1, 2009, whichever occurs first. This bill would also require
the Department of Social Services to submit a report reflecting the
reasons stated by mandated reporters for filing a one-time automated
written report in lieu of the initial telephone report, as specified.
Because this bill would require local officials to perform
additional duties and because failure of a mandated reporter to make
a report as specified is a crime, this 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, with regard to certain mandates, no
reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that,
if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains
costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall
be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Mandated reporters, as defined in Section 11165.7 of the Penal
Code, are required to submit reports of child abuse or suspected
child abuse to agencies prescribed in the following section, by an
initial telephone report and a written followup report.
(b) Initial telephone reports of child abuse or suspected child
abuse are the preferred method of reporting because the screener
answering the call from the mandated reporter has the opportunity to
assess the validity and seriousness of the report for purposes of
expediting further investigation. In addition, telephone reporting
allows for screeners to ask for additional known information from the
mandated reporters that might not otherwise be conveyed in a written
report.
(c) By allowing reports of child abuse or suspected child abuse to
be received by a means that excludes the initial telephone report
the agency receiving the report loses an essential tool in expediting
child abuse investigations: the ability to assess the situation
through direct contact with the mandated reporter. Therefore,
situations in which the initial telephone report cannot be received
should be remedied and reduced to the extent possible in order to
strengthen the child abuse reporting safety net set forth in statute.
SEC. 2. 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 to any 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. 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 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. 3. Section 11166 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
11166. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a mandated
reporter shall make a report to an agency specified in Section
11165.9 whenever the mandated reporter, 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. The mandated
reporter shall make an initial report to the agency immediately or
as soon as is practicably possible by telephone and the mandated
reporter shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a
written followup report thereof within 36 hours of receiving the
information concerning the incident. The mandated reporter may
include with the report any nonprivileged documentary evidence the
mandated reporter possesses relating to the incident.
(1) For the purposes of this article, "reasonable suspicion" means
that it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain a
suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a
like position, drawing, when appropriate, on his or her training and
experience, to suspect child abuse or neglect. For the purpose of
this article, the pregnancy of a minor does not, in and of itself,
constitute a basis for a reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse.
(2) The agency shall be notified and a report shall be prepared
and sent, faxed, or electronically transmitted even if the child has
expired, regardless of whether or not the possible abuse was a factor
contributing to the death, and even if suspected child abuse was
discovered during an autopsy.
(3) Any report made by a mandated reporter pursuant to this
section shall be known as a mandated report.
(b) If after reasonable efforts a mandated reporter is unable to
submit an initial report by telephone, he or she shall immediately or
as soon as is practicably possible, by fax or electronic
transmission, make a one-time automated written report on the form
prescribed by the Department of Justice, and shall also be available
to respond to a telephone followup call by the agency with which he
or she filed the report. A mandated reporter who files a one-time
automated written report because he or she was unable to submit an
initial report by telephone is not required to submit a written
followup report.
(1) The one-time automated written report form prescribed by the
Department of Justice shall be clearly identifiable so that it is not
mistaken for a standard written followup report. In addition, the
automated one-time report shall contain a section that allows the
mandated reporter to state the reason the initial telephone call was
not able to be completed. The reason for the submission of the
one-time automated written report in lieu of the procedure prescribed
in subdivision (a) shall be captured in the Child Welfare
Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS). The department shall work
with stakeholders to modify reporting forms and the CWS/CMS as is
necessary to accommodate the changes enacted by these provisions.
(2) This subdivision shall not become operative until the CWS/CMS
is updated to capture the information prescribed in this subdivision.
(3) This subdivision shall become inoperative three years after
this subdivision becomes operative or on January 1, 2009, which ever
occurs first.
(4) On the inoperative date of these provisions, a report shall be
submitted to the counties and the Legislature by the Department of
Social Services that reflects the data collected from automated
one-time reports indicating the reasons stated as to why the
automated one-time report was filed in lieu of the initial telephone
report.
(5) Nothing in this section shall supersede the requirement that a
mandated reporter first attempt to make a report via telephone, or
that agencies specified in Section 11165.9 accept reports from
mandated reporters and other persons as required.
(c) Any mandated reporter who fails to report an incident of known
or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect as required by this
section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months
confinement in a county jail or by a fine of one thousand dollars
($1,000) or by both that imprisonment and fine. If a mandated
reporter intentionally conceals his or her failure to report an
incident known by the mandated reporter to be abuse or severe neglect
under this section, the failure to report is a continuing offense
until an agency specified in Section 11165.9 discovers the offense.
(d) (1) A clergy member who acquires knowledge or a reasonable
suspicion of child abuse or neglect during a penitential
communication is not subject to subdivision (a). For the purposes of
this subdivision, "penitential communication" means a communication,
intended to be in confidence, including, but not limited to, a
sacramental confession, made to a clergy member who, in the course of
the discipline or practice of his or her church, denomination, or
organization, is authorized or accustomed to hear those
communications, and under the discipline, tenets, customs, or
practices of his or her church, denomination, or organization, has a
duty to keep those communications secret.
(2) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to modify or
limit a clergy member's duty to report known or suspected child abuse
or neglect when the clergy member is acting in some other capacity
that would otherwise make the clergy member a mandated reporter.
(3) (A) On or before January 1, 2004, a clergy member or any
custodian of records for the clergy member may report to an agency
specified in Section 11165.9 that the clergy member or any custodian
of records for the clergy member, prior to January 1, 1997, in his or
her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her
employment, other than during a penitential communication, acquired
knowledge or had a reasonable suspicion that a child had been the
victim of sexual abuse that the clergy member or any custodian of
records for the clergy member did not previously report the abuse to
an agency specified in Section 11165.9. The provisions of Section
11172 shall apply to all reports made pursuant to this paragraph.
(B) This paragraph shall apply even if the victim of the known or
suspected abuse has reached the age of majority by the time the
required report is made.
(C) The local law enforcement agency shall have jurisdiction to
investigate any report of child abuse made pursuant to this paragraph
even if the report is made after the victim has reached the age of
majority.
(e) Any commercial film and photographic print processor who has
knowledge of or observes, within the scope of his or her professional
capacity or employment, any film, photograph, videotape, negative,
or slide depicting a child under the age of 16 years engaged in an
act of sexual conduct, shall report the instance of suspected child
abuse to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the case
immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, by telephone and
shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written
report of it with a copy of the film, photograph, videotape,
negative, or slide attached within 36 hours of receiving the
information concerning the incident. As used in this subdivision,
"sexual conduct" means any of the following:
(1) Sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital,
anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or
opposite sex or between humans and animals.
(2) Penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object.
(3) Masturbation for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the
viewer.
(4) Sadomasochistic abuse for the purpose of sexual stimulation of
the viewer.
(5) Exhibition of the genitals, pubic, or rectal areas of any
person for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer.
(f) Any mandated reporter who knows or reasonably suspects that
the home or institution in which a child resides is unsuitable for
the child because of abuse or neglect of the child shall bring the
condition to the attention of the agency to which, and at the same
time as, he or she makes a report of the abuse or neglect pursuant to
subdivision (a).
(g) Any other person who has knowledge of or observes a child whom
he or she knows or reasonably suspects has been a victim of child
abuse or neglect may report the known or suspected instance of child
abuse or neglect to an agency specified in Section 11165.9.
(h) When two or more persons, who are required to report, jointly
have knowledge of a known or suspected instance of child abuse or
neglect, and when there is agreement among them, the telephone report
may be made by a member of the team selected by mutual agreement and
a single report may be made and signed by the selected member of the
reporting team. Any member who has knowledge that the member
designated to report has failed to do so shall thereafter make the
report.
(i) (1) The reporting duties under this section are individual,
and no supervisor or administrator may impede or inhibit the
reporting duties, and no person making a report shall be subject to
any sanction for making the report. However, internal procedures to
facilitate reporting and apprise supervisors and administrators of
reports may be established provided that they are not inconsistent
with this article.
(2) The internal procedures shall not require any employee
required to make reports pursuant to this article to disclose his or
her identity to the employer.
(3) Reporting the information regarding a case of possible child
abuse or neglect to an employer, supervisor, school principal, school
counselor, coworker, or other person shall not be a substitute for
making a mandated report to an agency specified in Section 11165.9.
(j) A county probation or welfare department shall immediately, or
as soon as practicably possible, report by telephone, fax, or
electronic transmission to the law enforcement agency having
jurisdiction over the case, to the agency given the responsibility
for investigation of cases under Section 300 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, and to the district attorney's office every known
or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, as defined in
Section 11165.6, except acts or omissions coming within subdivision
(b) of Section 11165.2, or reports made pursuant to Section 11165.13
based on risk to a child which relates solely to the inability of the
parent to provide the child with regular care due to the parent's
substance abuse, which shall be reported only to the county welfare
or probation department. A county probation or welfare department
also shall send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report
thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the
incident to any agency to which it makes a telephone report under
this subdivision.
(k) A law enforcement agency shall immediately, or as soon as
practicably possible, report by telephone, fax, or electronic
transmission to the agency given responsibility for investigation of
cases under Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and to
the district attorney's office every known or suspected instance of
child abuse or neglect reported to it, except acts or omissions
coming within subdivision (b) of Section 11165.2, which shall be
reported only to the county welfare or probation department. A law
enforcement agency shall report to the county welfare or probation
department every known or suspected instance of child abuse or
neglect reported to it which is alleged to have occurred as a result
of the action of a person responsible for the child's welfare, or as
the result of the failure of a person responsible for the child's
welfare to adequately protect the minor from abuse when the person
responsible for the child's welfare knew or reasonably should have
known that the minor was in danger of abuse. A law enforcement agency
also shall send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report
thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the
incident to any agency to which it makes a telephone report under
this subdivision.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for
certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.
However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains other 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.