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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY K. BOYLE, BISHOP, B. BOYLE, V. BROWN, DONATUCCI, GEIST, GEORGE, READSHAW, SANTARSIERO, STABACK, MAHONEY, CARROLL, KAVULICH, D. COSTA AND DEASY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania |
2 | Consolidated Statutes, further providing for persons required |
3 | to report suspected child abuse and for penalties for failure |
4 | to report or to refer. |
5 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
6 | hereby enacts as follows: |
7 | Section 1. Sections 6311(b) and (c) and 6319 of Title 23 of |
8 | the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read: |
9 | § 6311. Persons required to report suspected child abuse. |
10 | * * * |
11 | (b) Enumeration of persons required to report.--Persons |
12 | required to report under subsection (a) include, but are not |
13 | limited to, any licensed physician, osteopath, medical examiner, |
14 | coroner, funeral director, dentist, optometrist, chiropractor, |
15 | podiatrist, intern, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, |
16 | hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care |
17 | or treatment of persons, Christian Science practitioner, member |
18 | of the clergy, school administrator, school teacher, school |
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1 | nurse, school staff member, school faculty, coach, social |
2 | services worker, day-care center worker or any other child-care |
3 | or foster-care worker, mental health professional, peace officer |
4 | or law enforcement official. |
5 | (c) Staff members of institutions, etc.--Whenever a person |
6 | is required to report under subsection (b) in the capacity as a |
7 | member of the staff of a medical or other public or private |
8 | institution, school, facility or agency, that person shall |
9 | immediately notify [the person in charge of the institution, |
10 | school, facility or agency or the designated agent of the person |
11 | in charge. Upon notification, the person in charge or the |
12 | designated agent, if any, shall assume the responsibility and |
13 | have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made |
14 | in accordance with section 6313. This chapter does not require |
15 | more than one report from any such institution, school, facility |
16 | or agency] a law enforcement official and an agent for child |
17 | protective services. For the purposes of this subsection, the |
18 | term "law enforcement official" shall have the same meaning as |
19 | "peace officer" as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 501 (relating to |
20 | definitions). |
21 | * * * |
22 | § 6319. Penalties for failure to report or to refer. |
23 | A person or official required by this chapter to report a |
24 | case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral to the |
25 | appropriate authorities who willfully fails to do so commits a |
26 | [misdemeanor] felony of the third degree for the first violation |
27 | and a [misdemeanor] felony of the second degree for a second or |
28 | subsequent violation. |
29 | Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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