Assigned to HHS FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2605
duty to report; requirements; interviews
Purpose
Removes the option for mandatory reporters to cause a report of the abuse of a minor to be
made in lieu of the mandatory reporter making the report to the entity required to a receive the
report. Allows outlined physicians required to report abuse or neglect of minors to delegate the
duty to a subordinate or other employee of the facility or practice.
Background
Any person who reasonably believes that a minor is the victim of physical injury, abuse or
neglect that appears to have been inflicted by nonaccidental means must immediately report or
cause reports to be made of this information to a peace officer, the Department of Child Safety or
to a tribal agency, if applicable. This duty to report includes any physician, physician's assistant,
optometrist, dentist, osteopathic physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, behavioral health professional,
nurse, psychologist, counselor or social worker who develops said reasonable belief in the course
of treating a patient.
Reports must be made immediately either electronically or by telephone. Each report must
contain the following information: 1) the names and addresses of the minor and their parents or
the person having custody of the minor; 2) the minor's age and the nature and extent of the minor's
abuse, physical injury or neglect, including any evidence of previous abuse, physical injury or
neglect; and 3) any other information that the person believes might be helpful in establishing the
cause.
Under current statute, reportable offenses include: 1) any offenses involving sexual
exploitation of children or minors; 2) electronic transmission to minors of an item considered
harmful to minors; 3) surreptitious photographing, videotaping, filming or digitally recording or
viewing a nonconsenting and indecent minor; 4) child sex trafficking; 5) incest; and 6) unlawful
mutilation (A.R.S. ยง 13-3620).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows physicians, physician's assistants, optometrists, dentists, osteopathic physicians,
chiropractors, podiatrists and nurses that are required to report abuse or neglect of minors to
delegate the duty to a subordinate or other employee of the facility or practice where the
treatment of the minor occurred. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2605
Page 2
2. Removes the authority for individuals required to report the abuse or neglect of a minor to
cause such reports to be made in lieu of making the report themselves.
3. Allows any person who is required to receive reports concerning abuse of a minor to also
perform a forensic interview of the involved minor.
4. Modifies the definition of reportable offenses to include the reckless physical distribution or
providing to minors of any item that is considered harmful to minors, rather than the electronic
transmission of an item considered harmful to minors.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
JUD 2/16/22 DPA 9-0-0-1
3
rd
Read 2/23/22 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 7, 2022
MM/CC/sr