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 paragraphs to read:

8§ 6383. Education and training.

9* * *

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

11* * *

12(3) Each licensing board with jurisdiction over
13professional licensees identified as mandated reporters under
14this chapter shall:

15(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. 
<-9The training may occur as part of the continuing 
10education requirement of the license.

11(ii) Require all persons applying for the renewal of
12a license or certification issued by the licensing board
13to submit documentation acceptable to the licensing board
14of the completion of at least two hours of approved
15continuing education per licensure cycle. Continuing
16education shall address, but shall not be limited to,
17recognition of the signs of child abuse and the reporting
18requirements for suspected child abuse in this
19Commonwealth. Continuing education curricula shall be
20approved by the <-licensing board in consultation with the
21Department of Public Welfare. The two hours of continuing
22education on child abuse recognition and reporting shall
23be completed by each licensee as a portion of the total
24continuing education required for biennial license
25renewal.

26(4) A licensing board with jurisdiction over
27professional licensees identified as mandated reporters under
28this chapter may exempt an applicant or licensee from the
29training or continuing education required by this paragraph
30if all of the following apply:

1(i) The applicant or licensee submits documentation
2acceptable to the licensing board that the person has
3already completed child abuse recognition training.

4(ii) The training was:

5(A) required by section 1205.6 of the act of
6March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
7School Code of 1949, and the training program was
8approved by the Department of Education in
9consultation with the Department of Public Welfare;
10or

11(B) required by the act of June 13, 1967
12(P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code,
13and the training program was approved by the
14Department of Public Welfare.

15(iii) The amount of training received equals or
16exceeds the amount of training or continuing education
17required by this paragraph.

<-18(5) A licensing board with jurisdiction over
19professional licensees identified as mandated reporters under
20this chapter may exempt any licensee whom the board
21determines does not come into contact with children as part
22of their professional practice.

23Section 2. The addition of 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(3) applies
24to persons applying for a license or certification, or for the
25renewal of a license or certification, on or after January 1,
262015.

27Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.