THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY D. O'BRIEN, BISHOP, MURT, FABRIZIO, LONGIETTI, VULAKOVICH, READSHAW AND TALLMAN, DECEMBER 7, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, DECEMBER 7, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for persons required

to report suspected child abuse.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 6311(c) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 6311.  Persons required to report suspected child abuse.

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(c)  Staff members of institutions, etc.--[Whenever]

(1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), whenever a

person is required to report under subsection [(b)] (a) in

the capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other

public or private institution, school, facility or agency,

that person shall immediately notify the person in charge of

the institution, school, facility or agency or the designated

agent of the person in charge. Upon notification, the person

in charge or the designated agent, if any, shall assume the

responsibility and have the legal obligation to report or

cause a report to be made in accordance with section 6313.

(2)  Whenever a person is required to report under

subsection (a) in the capacity as a member of the staff of a

medical or other public or private institution, school,

facility or agency, that person shall have the responsibility

and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to

be made in accordance with section 6313 if that person has

personally witnessed an act or acts the person reasonably

believes constitutes suspected child abuse.

(3)  This chapter does not require more than one report

from any such institution, school, facility or agency.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.