AN ACT

 

1Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further
3providing for education and training.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Section 6383(b) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph<-
8paragraphs to read:<-

9§ 6383. Education and training.

10* * *

11(b) Duties of Department of State.--

12* * *

13(3) Each licensing board with jurisdiction over
14professional licensees identified as mandated reporters under
15this chapter shall:

16(i) Require all persons applying for a license or 

1certification issued by the licensing board to submit 
2documentation acceptable to the licensing board of the 
3completion of at least three hours of approved child 
4abuse recognition and reporting training. Training shall 
5address, but shall not be limited to, recognition of the 
6signs of child abuse and the reporting requirements for 
7suspected child abuse in this Commonwealth. Training 
8shall be approved by the Department of Public Welfare.

9(ii) Require all persons applying for the renewal of
10a license or certification issued by the licensing board
11to submit documentation acceptable to the licensing board
12of the completion of at least two hours of approved
13continuing education per licensure cycle. Continuing
14education shall address, but shall not be limited to,
15recognition of the signs of child abuse and the reporting
16requirements for suspected child abuse in this
17Commonwealth. Continuing education <-curriculum <-curricula
18shall be approved by the Department of Public Welfare.
19The two hours of continuing education on child abuse
20recognition and reporting shall be completed by each
21licensee as a portion of the total continuing education
22required for biennial license renewal.

<-23(4) A licensing board with jurisdiction over
24professional licensees identified as mandated reporters under
25this chapter may exempt an applicant or licensee from the
26training or continuing education required by this paragraph
27if all of the following apply:

28(i) The applicant or licensee submits documentation
29acceptable to the licensing board that the person has
30already completed child abuse recognition training.

1(ii) The training was:

2(A) required by section 1205.6 of the act of
3March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
4School Code of 1949, and the training program was
5approved by the Department of Education in
6consultation with the Department of Public Welfare;
7or

8(B) required by the act of June 13, 1967
9(P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code,
10and the training program was approved by the
11Department of Public Welfare.

12(iii) The amount of training received equals or
13exceeds the amount of training or continuing education
14required by this paragraph.

15Section 2. The addition of 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(3) applies
16to persons applying for a license or certification, or for the
17renewal of a license or certification, on or after January 1,
182015.

19Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.