The bill sSB381 File No. 572 proposes amendments to the mandated reporter requirements in the state's general statutes, with an effective date of July 1, 2024. It expands the definition of mandated reporters to include any school employee who suspects a student is a victim of sexual offenses by a school employee, and allows for a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is reasonable cause to report. The bill removes certain penalties for failure to report and interference with reporting, renumbers sections accordingly, and provides immunity from liability for those who report or do not report in good faith. It also requires notification to the appropriate authorities if a school employee or a person with a state-issued educational certificate is convicted of a crime involving child abuse, neglect, or sexual offenses against a student.

Furthermore, the bill broadens the scope of mandated reporters to include all such reporters, not just those employed by school boards, and changes the language from "delayed reporting" to "failure to report." It introduces legal consequences for failure to report or preventing a report, with varying degrees of misdemeanors and felonies based on the nature of the violation. The bill also outlines employment review processes for applicants with direct student contact, requiring disclosure of past investigations or disciplinary actions related to abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct, and prohibits employment under certain circumstances. It mandates the posting of DCF's Careline number and website in schools and specifies the protocol for investigations. The bill includes technical changes and reorganizes provisions on penalties for failing to report, and requires DCF to update its training programs for mandated reporters by October 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-153f, 10-145i, 10-149a, 10-221s
ED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference: 10-153f, 10-145i, 10-149a, 10-221s
APP Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-145i, 10-149a, 10-221s
File No. 572: 10-145i, 10-149a, 10-221s