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Committee advances bill requiring educators to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement and DHS
Summary
A legislative committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 553, which adds dual reporting requirements for educators and creates criminal liability for knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
A legislative committee voted to report Senate Bill 553 with a do-pass recommendation after members heard the bill would require educators to report suspected child abuse or neglect to both law enforcement and the state Department of Human Services.
Vice Chair Sterling, explaining the bill, said the measure would make it a crime "to knowingly and willfully fail to make these reports." The bill also expands professional-development topics to include mandated reporting and requires periodic review, provides grounds for dismissal for knowingly failing to report, and directs that letters of good standing note allegations of inappropriate behavior with students when appropriate.
Supporters said the changes are intended to close gaps in reporting and to ensure that schools and licensing entities have notice of substantiated allegations. The committee took no extended debate before voting.
The committee clerk announced the vote as 11 ayes, 0 nays; the bill was reported out as passed from the committee.
The measure now moves to the next step in the legislative process.
