Pennsylvania HB 1399: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for persons required to report suspected child abuse and for employees having contact with children, adoptive and foster parents.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1607
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1399
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, WAXMAN, GIRAL, CERRATO, HILL-EVANS,
GUENST, RIVERA, SANCHEZ, D. WILLIAMS, NEILSON, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ
AND SHUSTERMAN, MAY 5, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 6, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further
providing for persons required to report suspected child
abuse and for employees having contact with children,
adoptive and foster parents.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6311(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph and
subsection (b)(1) is amended by adding a subparagraph to read:
§ 6311. Persons required to report suspected child abuse.
(a) Mandated reporters.--The following adults shall make a
report of suspected child abuse, subject to subsection (b), if
the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a
victim of child abuse:
* * *
(17) Any adult, paid or unpaid, reasonably expected to
have direct contact with children during the production of a
film defined in section 1711-D of the act of March 4, 1971
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(P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
(b) Basis to report.--
(1) A mandated reporter enumerated in subsection (a)
shall make a report of suspected child abuse in accordance
with section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure), if the
mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a
child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following
circumstances:
* * *
(ii.1) The mandated reporter comes into contact with
the child in the course of the production of a film
defined in section 1711-D of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
* * *
Section 2. Section 6344(b) introductory paragraph and (b.1)
of Title 23 are amended and subsection (a) is amended by adding
a paragraph to read:
§ 6344. Employees having contact with children; adoptive and
foster parents.
(a) Applicability.--Beginning December 31, 2014, this
section applies to the following individuals:
* * *
(9) Any adult, paid or unpaid, reasonably expected to
have direct contact with children during the production of a
film defined in section 1711-D of the act of March 4, 1971
(P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
* * *
(b) Information to be submitted.--An individual identified
in subsection (a)(7) or (8) at the time the individual meets the
description set forth in subsection (a)(7) or (8) and an
individual identified in subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5)
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(i) [or], (6)[,] or (9), (a.1), (a.2) or (a.3) prior to the
commencement of employment or service or in accordance with
section 6344.4 shall be required to submit the following
information to an employer, administrator, supervisor or other
person responsible for employment decisions or involved in the
selection of volunteers:
* * *
(b.1) Required documentation to be maintained and
produced.--The employer, administrator, supervisor or other
person responsible for employment decisions or acceptance of the
individual to serve in any capacity identified in subsection (a)
(1), (2), (3), (4), (5)(i) [or], (6)[,] or (9), (a.1) or (a.2)
shall maintain a copy of the required information and require
the individual to submit the required documents prior to
employment or acceptance to serve in any such capacity or as
required in section 6344.4, except as allowed under subsection
(m).
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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