Requirement that certain injuries to children be reported by physicians, nurses, teachers, etc.; penalties for failure to report. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person required to file a report, pursuant to relevant law, who fails to do so as soon as possible, but not longer than 24 hours after having reason to suspect a reportable offense of child abuse or neglect where such reportable offense is alleged to have occurred at a private or state-operated hospital, institution, or facility to which children have been committed or where children have been placed for care and treatment. The bill also provides that a second or subsequent violation is a Class 6 felony. Under current law, any such person who fails to file such report, regardless of where the reportable offense is alleged to have occurred, is (i) subject to a fine of not more than $500 for the first failure and not less than $1,000 for any subsequent failure or (ii) guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if the reportable offense is completed or attempted rape, sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, or object sexual penetration. The bill also clarifies that such reporting requirement is imposed upon any person in charge of the hospital, institution, or facility who has been informed by any person of a reason to suspect that a child is an abused and neglected child as it related to the reporting requirement for any professional staff person employed by a private or state-operated hospital, institution, or facility to which children have been committed or where children have been placed for care and treatment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63.2-1509
Courts of Justice Substitute: 63.2-1509
Criminal Subcommittee Substitute: 63.2-1509
Engrossed: 63.2-1509