This bill amends the Child Protection Act to enhance the reporting process for suspected child abuse and neglect. It allows reports to include the name, address, or phone number of the person making the report, which is a new insertion into the existing law. Additionally, the bill establishes that anyone who knowingly makes a false report of abuse or neglect will be guilty of a misdemeanor and creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by such false reports, allowing them to seek civil damages. The bill also clarifies that professionals who fail to report suspected abuse or neglect or who knowingly file false reports will not be granted immunity from civil or criminal liability.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing immunity provisions to ensure that individuals participating in good faith in the reporting process are protected from liability, while also specifying that this immunity does not extend to mandatory reporters who fail to report or to those who submit false reports. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may affect judicial and correctional systems due to the potential increase in prosecutions and civil actions related to false reporting.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 169-C:30
HB1565 text: 169-C:30