Assembly Bill 412 amends existing laws regarding mandatory reporting requirements for suspected child abuse and neglect in Wisconsin. The bill mandates that child welfare departments refer all reports of threatened or suspected abuse to law enforcement, enhancing the current requirement that only applies to cases of suspected child sexual abuse or trafficking. Additionally, the bill expands the list of mandatory reporters to include 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 specific social worker certificate.

The bill makes specific amendments to the legal language, including the addition of a new category of mandatory reporters and the requirement for child welfare departments to refer all cases of suspected abuse to law enforcement within 12 hours. It removes previous language that allowed for discretion in reporting certain types of abuse and neglect, thereby strengthening the obligation to report. Overall, the bill aims to improve the response to suspected child abuse and ensure that law enforcement is involved in all relevant cases.

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