Bill H.880 aims to amend current child welfare laws by repealing the exceptions that allow clergy members to withhold reports of child abuse and neglect when such information is received in a confidential context while acting as spiritual advisors. Specifically, the bill removes the four-pronged criteria that defined when clergy could be exempt from reporting, which included conditions related to confidentiality and the nature of the communication. The bill also eliminates the requirement for clergy to report information about abuse or neglect received outside of this exception, even if they had previously received related information under the now-repealed criteria.

The proposed changes are encapsulated in the amendments to 33 V.S.A. § 4913, where the language specifying the clergy's reporting exemptions is deleted and replaced with a clear mandate that no individual can refuse to report suspected child abuse or neglect based on claims of privilege or confidentiality. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, reinforcing the commitment to ensuring that all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect are reported, regardless of the source of the information.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 33-4913