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HCS/HB 505 - This act modifies provisions relating to child abuse and neglect. CHILDREN'S DIVISION JURISDICTION This act repeals provisions prohibiting the Children's Division from having jurisdiction over or investigating reports of alleged child abuse arising out of the use of reasonable force to protect persons or property or any spanking administered in a reasonable manner by specified school personnel. This act also removes specific reporting and investigative procedures that must be followed by a school district and the Children's Division when a student alleges sexual misconduct by a teacher or other school employee. (Section 160.261) This provision is contained in HB 152 (2013). MANDATORY REPORTING Current law requires that certain personnel must report, or cause a report to be made, to the Children's Division when child abuse or neglect is suspected. This act requires that an individual must immediately report to the Children's Division when child abuse or neglect is suspected. This act prohibits an internal investigation from being initiated until a report has been made. If two or more members of a medical institution who are required to report jointly, a single report may be made by a member of that team. If the designated team member fails to report, any other member must immediately make the report. Supervisors and administrators are prohibited from impeding and inhibiting reporting. Employers are prohibited from sanctioning or imposing any adverse employment action on any mandatory reporter for making a report. (Section 210.115) This provision is contained in HB 152 (2013). CRIMINAL CHILD ABUSE This act specifies that child abuse is a Class A felony and shall also be classified as a dangerous felony if the child dies as a result of injuries sustained from chargeable conduct. (Sections 556.061 and 568.060) These provisions contain an emergency clause. FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS IN CHILD ABUSE CASES This act requires the Department of Public Safety to establish rules regarding the reimbursement of the costs of forensic examinations for children younger than 14 years of age, including establishing conditions and definitions for emergency and non-emergency forensic exams and specific qualifications for appropriate medical providers performing non-emergency forensic exams. This act also allows the department to establish additional qualifications for appropriate medical providers performing non-emergency forensic evaluations for children younger than 14 years of age. (Section 595.220) The forensic examination provisions are contained in SCS/SB 256 (2013). ADRIANE CROUSE
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