This bill proposes several updates to current statutes regarding the duty to report child abuse and neglect. Notably, it modifies the language surrounding the responsibilities of health professionals and clergy. Specifically, it clarifies that a health professional's determination of prenatal drug exposure does not expand their reporting duties beyond existing requirements. Additionally, it introduces a new provision that allows clergy, Christian Science practitioners, or priests to withhold reporting of confessions unless they determine that the abuse is ongoing or poses a threat to other minors. This change aims to balance the confidentiality of religious confessions with the need to protect children from harm.

Furthermore, the bill expands the reporting obligations for clergy and similar professionals by requiring them to report any knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect, regardless of whether it was disclosed in a confidential setting. It also specifies that this reporting requirement applies unless the clergy member believes the abuse is ongoing or will occur in the future. Other updates include the removal of outdated language and the introduction of new subsections that clarify the responsibilities of individuals required to report suspected abuse, as well as the handling of psychiatric records in relation to these reports.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-201, 12-2233, 13-3620, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-1406, 13-1410, 13-3552, 13-3553, 13-3608, 13-3212, 13-3401, 8-327, 13-501, 13-3903, 13-4261, 13-3623, 13-3601, 13-1417, 8-455, 13-706, 32-3201, 15-803, 13-3551, 13-1401, 13-1411, 13-3507, 8-521.02, 8-456, 8-471