The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the duty to report child abuse and neglect. Under the new provisions, a person with a duty to report who has direct knowledge of a minor being a victim of abuse or neglect must immediately report this to the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and cannot delegate this responsibility to another individual. However, employees or agents of health care institutions may delegate the reporting to a designated agent if necessary for patient care or compliance with legal standards, ensuring that only one report is made for the same incident.

Additionally, the bill introduces a prohibition against law enforcement investigations into alleged abuse being supervised by school resource officers or safety officers. It also updates the language in existing statutes to clarify the reporting process and the consequences for failing to report, establishing that violations can result in a class 1 misdemeanor or a class 6 felony if the failure involves a reportable offense. Overall, these changes aim to strengthen the reporting requirements and clarify the roles of various parties involved in the reporting process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-3620
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-3620
House Engrossed Version (06/02/2026): 13-3620, 15-514, 36-2281, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-3401, 36-401, 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, 36-401, 8-817, 8-201, 13-3623, 13-3506, 13-3019, 13-3212, 13-3608, 13-1214