Assembly Bill 412 amends existing laws regarding mandatory reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect in Wisconsin. The bill mandates that child welfare departments refer all reports of threatened or suspected abuse to law enforcement, expanding the current requirement that only applies to cases of suspected child sexual abuse or trafficking. Additionally, the bill adds a new category of mandatory reporters, including employees of child welfare agencies who interact directly with children or handle child welfare cases. It also clarifies the definition of a social worker to include individuals holding a social worker certificate as defined by the relevant professional board.

The bill makes specific amendments to existing statutes, including the addition of a new section that defines the new category of mandatory reporters and updates the definition of a social worker. It also modifies the existing requirement for county departments and licensed child welfare agencies to refer cases of suspected or threatened abuse to law enforcement, removing previous language that limited the types of abuse that needed to be reported. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the reporting process for child abuse cases and ensure that law enforcement is involved in all instances of suspected abuse.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.981(2)(a)10, 48.981, 48.981(3)(a)3