Maryland SB 679: Child Abuse and Neglect - Training

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0679*

SENATE BILL 679
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CF 7lr2678
By: Senator Lee
Introduced and read first time: February 3, 2017
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Child Abuse and Neglect – Training 2

FOR the purpose of requiring that each health practitioner, police officer, educator, and 3
human service worker in this State receive periodic training on the obligation to 4
report child abuse and neglect and on the identification of abused and neglected 5
children; and generally relating to child abuse and neglect. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Family Law 8
Section 5–704 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2012 Replacement Volume and 2016 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Family Law 14

5–704. 15

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any law on privileged 16
communications, each health practitioner, police officer, educator, or human service 17
worker, acting in a professional capacity in this State: 18

(1) who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or 19
neglect, shall notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency; and 20

(2) if acting as a staff member of a hospital, public health agency, child care 21
institution, juvenile detention center, school, or similar institution, shall immediately 22
notify and give all information required by this section to the head of the institution or the 23
designee of the head. 24

2 SENATE BILL 679

(b) (1) An individual who notifies the appropriate authorities under subsection 1
(a) of this section shall make: 2

(i) an oral report, by telephone or direct communication, as soon as 3
possible to the local department or appropriate law enforcement agency; and 4

(ii) a written report: 5

1. to the local department not later than 48 hours after the 6
contact, examination, attention, or treatment that caused the individual to believe that the 7
child had been subjected to abuse or neglect; and 8

2. with a copy to the local State’s Attorney. 9

(2) (i) An agency to which an oral report of suspected abuse or neglect 10
is made under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall immediately notify the other agency. 11

(ii) This paragraph does not prohibit a local department and an 12
appropriate law enforcement agency from agreeing to cooperative arrangements. 13

(c) Insofar as is reasonably possible, an individual who makes a report under this 14
section shall include in the report the following information: 15

(1) the name, age, and home address of the child; 16

(2) the name and home address of the child’s parent or other person who is 17
responsible for the child’s care; 18

(3) the whereabouts of the child; 19

(4) the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect of the child, including any 20
evidence or information available to the reporter concerning possible previous instances of 21
abuse or neglect; and 22

(5) any other information that would help to determine: 23

(i) the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect; and 24

(ii) the identity of any individual responsible for the abuse or neglect. 25

(D) EACH HEALTH PRACTITIONER, POLICE OFFICER, EDUCATOR, AND 26
HUMAN SERVICE WORKER IN THIS STATE SHALL RECEIVE PERIODIC TRAINING ON: 27

(1) THE OBLIGATION TO REPORT ABUSE AND NEGLECT AS REQUIRED 28
BY THIS SECTION; AND 29

SENATE BILL 679 3

(2) THE IDENTIFICATION OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. 1

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 2
October 1, 2017. 3