Senate bill would require child welfare agencies to refer all suspected child abuse to police

Senate Bill 432, introduced Sept. 29, 2025, by Senators Quinn, James and Marklein and cosponsored by a group of representatives, would require county child welfare departments, the Department of Children and Families and licensed child welfare agencies under contract with the department to refer to the sheriff or police department all reports of suspected or threatened child abuse within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

The bill would also add to the list of mandatory reporters “an employee of an agency whose duties include direct interaction with children or the handling of child welfare cases” and would amend the statutory definition of “social worker” to cross-reference s. 457.01 (10). The bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

Under current law, certain reports — broadly those involving threatened or suspected child sexual abuse or trafficking — must be referred to police within 12 hours, while other categories may be handled under a county department’s written policy about when it will notify law enforcement. The bill would change that practice by generally requiring referral to police of all reports of threatened or suspected abuse as defined in s. 48.02.

The bill’s analysis in the legislative text notes that “abuse” under current law includes non-accidental physical injuries inflicted on a child, sexual abuse, trafficking, manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a child, and certain kinds of emotional damage tied to neglect by a parent, guardian or legal custodian. The bill would therefore broaden the set of reports that a county department, the department, or a contracted licensed child welfare agency must refer to local law enforcement.

Senate Bill 432 specifically amends s. 48.981 (2) (a) 10., creates s. 48.981 (2) (a) 31., and amends s. 48.981 (3) (a) 3. The bill text also directs that, for certain enumerated categories, agencies must adopt a written policy specifying the kinds of reports they will routinely report to local law enforcement authorities.

The legislative text includes a note that a local fiscal estimate will be printed as an appendix to the bill; the bill itself does not specify dollar amounts or staffing changes. The text does not record any floor or committee votes; it shows only that the measure was introduced and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

Because the bill would change when and how child welfare reports are referred to law enforcement and would expand mandatory-reporting obligations to agency employees who work directly with children or handle cases, the practical effect — if enacted — could include more police notifications and earlier law enforcement involvement in a broader set of child welfare reports. The bill text does not state implementation timelines beyond the 12-hour referral requirement, and it does not list enforcement mechanisms or appropriation amounts.

Next steps noted in the document: the bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety; a local fiscal estimate will be appended to the bill.