The proposed bill would update current statutes by expanding the list of mandatory reporters of abuse involving minors to include members of school district governing boards and charter school governing bodies, as well as substitute teachers. It would also clarify that school resource officers (SROs) and school safety officers (SSOs) must immediately notify the appropriate law enforcement agency upon receiving reports of abuse and provide all relevant information for investigation. Additionally, the bill specifies that interviews with potential victims must follow local county protocols. In terms of reporting misconduct, the bill mandates that certificated and noncertificated personnel, along with governing board and governing body members, report any reasonable suspicion or allegations of misconduct to local law enforcement. It emphasizes that reports made to SROs or SSOs do fulfill the obligation to report to law enforcement or the State Board of Education (SBE) and introduces definitions for terms such as "school safety officer" and "reportable offense". Overall, these updates aim to enhance the protection of minors by clarifying the responsibilities and procedures for reporting abuse and misconduct in educational settings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-3620, 15-514, 36-2281, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-3401, 8-201, 13-3623, 13-3506, 13-3019, 13-3212, 13-3608, 13-1214
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-3620, 15-514, 36-2281, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-3401, 8-201, 13-3623, 13-3506, 13-3019, 13-3212, 13-3608, 13-1214
House Engrossed Version: 13-3620, 15-514, 36-2281, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-3401, 8-817, 8-201, 13-3623, 13-3506, 13-3019, 13-3212, 13-3608, 13-1214
Chaptered Version: 13-3620, 15-514, 36-2281, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-3401, 8-817, 8-201, 13-3623, 13-3506, 13-3019, 13-3212, 13-3608, 13-1214