BILL NUMBER: AB 1432CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 797 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 20, 2014 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 22, 2014 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 4, 2014 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 2014 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 7, 2014 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 11, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gatto (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Bonilla) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Campos, Dababneh, and Dickinson) (Coauthor: Senator Cannella) JANUARY 6, 2014 An act to repeal Section 44690 of, and to repeal and add Section 44691 of, the Education Code, and to amend Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code, relating to child abuse reporting. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1432, Gatto. Mandated child abuse reporting: school employees: training. The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act requires a mandated reporter, which includes a teacher or one of certain other types of school employees, to report whenever he or she, in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, has knowledge of or has observed a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop staff development seminars and any other appropriate means of instructing school personnel in the detection of child abuse and neglect and the proper action that school personnel should take in suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. Existing law requires school districts that do not train their employees in the duties of mandated reporters under the child abuse reporting laws to report to the State Department of Education the reasons why this training is not provided. This bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services, to develop and disseminate information to all school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools, and their school personnel in California, regarding the detection and reporting of child abuse, to provide statewide guidance on the responsibilities of mandated reporters, and to develop appropriate means of instructing school personnel in the detection of child abuse and neglect and the proper action that school personnel should take in suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, including, but not limited to, an online training module to be provided by the State Department of Social Services. The bill would require school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools to do both of the following: (1) annually train, using the online training module provided by the State Department of Social Services, or other training, as specified, employees and persons working on their behalf who are mandated reporters on the mandated reporting requirements, as specified; and (2) develop a process for all persons required to receive training under the bill to provide proof of completing this training within the first 6 weeks of each school year or within 6 weeks of that person's employment. By imposing these additional duties on local educational agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 44690 of the Education Code is repealed. SEC. 2. Section 44691 of the Education Code is repealed. SEC. 3. Section 44691 is added to the Education Code, to read: 44691. (a) The State Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services, shall do all of the following: (1) Develop and disseminate information to all school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools, and their school personnel in California, regarding the detection and reporting of child abuse. (2) Provide statewide guidance on the responsibilities of mandated reporters who are school personnel in accordance with the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code). This guidance shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, both of the following: (A) Information on the identification of child abuse and neglect. (B) Reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect. (3) Develop appropriate means of instructing school personnel in the detection of child abuse and neglect and the proper action that school personnel should take in suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, including, but not limited to, an online training module to be provided by the State Department of Social Services. (b) School districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools shall do both of the following: (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), provide annual training, using the online training module provided by the State Department of Social Services, to their employees and persons working on their behalf who are mandated reporters, as defined in Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code, pursuant to this section and subdivision (d) of Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code on the mandated reporting requirements. Mandated reporter training shall be provided to school personnel hired during the course of the school year. This training shall include information that failure to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect, as required by Section 11166 of the Penal Code, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months confinement in a county jail, or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine. (2) Develop a process for all persons required to receive training pursuant to this section to provide proof of completing the training within the first six weeks of each school year or within the first six weeks of that person's employment. The process developed under this paragraph may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the use of a sign-in sheet or the submission of a certificate of completion to the applicable governing board or body of the school district, county office of education, state special school and diagnostic center, or charter school. (c) School districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools that do not use the online training module provided by the State Department of Social Services shall report to the State Department of Education the training being used in its place. SEC. 4. Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 11165.7. (a) As used in this article, "mandated reporter" is defined as any of the following: (1) A teacher. (2) An instructional aide. (3) A teacher's aide or teacher's assistant employed by a public or private school. (4) A classified employee of a public school. (5) An administrative officer or supervisor of child welfare and attendance, or a certificated pupil personnel employee of a public or private school. (6) An administrator of a public or private day camp. (7) An administrator or employee of a public or private youth center, youth recreation program, or youth organization. (8) An administrator or employee of a public or private organization whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children. (9) An employee of a county office of education or the State Department of Education whose duties bring the employee into contact with children on a regular basis. (10) A licensee, an administrator, or an employee of a licensed community care or child day care facility. (11) A Head Start program teacher. (12) A licensing worker or licensing evaluator employed by a licensing agency, as defined in Section 11165.11. (13) A public assistance worker. (14) An employee of a child care institution, including, but not limited to, foster parents, group home personnel, and personnel of residential care facilities. (15) A social worker, probation officer, or parole officer. (16) An employee of a school district police or security department. (17) A person who is an administrator or presenter of, or a counselor in, a child abuse prevention program in a public or private school. (18) A district attorney investigator, inspector, or local child support agency caseworker, unless the investigator, inspector, or caseworker is working with an attorney appointed pursuant to Section 317 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to represent a minor. (19) A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, who is not otherwise described in this section. (20) A firefighter, except for volunteer firefighters. (21) A physician and surgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, dentist, resident, intern, podiatrist, chiropractor, licensed nurse, dental hygienist, optometrist, marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, professional clinical counselor, or any other person who is currently licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code. (22) An emergency medical technician I or II, paramedic, or other person certified pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797) of the Health and Safety Code. (23) A psychological assistant registered pursuant to Section 2913 of the Business and Professions Code. (24) A marriage and family therapist trainee, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 4980.03 of the Business and Professions Code. (25) An unlicensed marriage and family therapist intern registered under Section 4980.44 of the Business and Professions Code. (26) A state or county public health employee who treats a minor for venereal disease or any other condition. (27) A coroner. (28) A medical examiner or other person who performs autopsies. (29) A commercial film and photographic print or image processor as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 11166. As used in this article, "commercial film and photographic print or image processor" means a person who develops exposed photographic film into negatives, slides, or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides, or who prepares, publishes, produces, develops, duplicates, or prints any representation of information, data, or an image, including, but not limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy disk, data storage medium, CD-ROM, computer-generated equipment, or computer-generated image, for compensation. The term includes any employee of that person; it does not include a person who develops film or makes prints or images for a public agency. (30) A child visitation monitor. As used in this article, "child visitation monitor" means a person who, for financial compensation, acts as a monitor of a visit between a child and another person when the monitoring of that visit has been ordered by a court of law. (31) An animal control officer or humane society officer. For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (A) "Animal control officer" means a person employed by a city, county, or city and county for the purpose of enforcing animal control laws or regulations. (B) "Humane society officer" means a person appointed or employed by a public or private entity as a humane officer who is qualified pursuant to Section 14502 or 14503 of the Corporations Code. (32) A clergy member, as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 11166. As used in this article, "clergy member" means a priest, minister, rabbi, religious practitioner, or similar functionary of a church, temple, or recognized denomination or organization. (33) Any custodian of records of a clergy member, as specified in this section and subdivision (d) of Section 11166. (34) An employee of any police department, county sheriff's department, county probation department, or county welfare department. (35) An employee or volunteer of a Court Appointed Special Advocate program, as defined in Rule 5.655 of the California Rules of Court. (36) A custodial officer, as defined in Section 831.5. (37) A person providing services to a minor child under Section 12300 or 12300.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (38) An alcohol and drug counselor. As used in this article, an "alcohol and drug counselor" is a person providing counseling, therapy, or other clinical services for a state licensed or certified drug, alcohol, or drug and alcohol treatment program. However, alcohol or drug abuse, or both alcohol and drug abuse, is not, in and of itself, a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect. (39) A clinical counselor trainee, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4999.12 of the Business and Professions Code. (40) A clinical counselor intern registered under Section 4999.42 of the Business and Professions Code. (41) An employee or administrator of a public or private postsecondary educational institution, whose duties bring the administrator or employee into contact with children on a regular basis, or who supervises those whose duties bring the administrator or employee into contact with children on a regular basis, as to child abuse or neglect occurring on that institution's premises or at an official activity of, or program conducted by, the institution. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as altering the lawyer-client privilege as set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 950) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code. (42) An athletic coach, athletic administrator, or athletic director employed by any public or private school that provides any combination of instruction for kindergarten, or grades 1 to 12, inclusive. (43) (A) A commercial computer technician as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 11166. As used in this article, "commercial computer technician" means a person who works for a company that is in the business of repairing, installing, or otherwise servicing a computer or computer component, including, but not limited to, a computer part, device, memory storage or recording mechanism, auxiliary storage recording or memory capacity, or any other material relating to the operation and maintenance of a computer or computer network system, for a fee. An employer who provides an electronic communications service or a remote computing service to the public shall be deemed to comply with this article if that employer complies with Section 2258A of Title 18 of the United States Code. (B) An employer of a commercial computer technician may implement internal procedures for facilitating reporting consistent with this article. These procedures may direct employees who are mandated reporters under this paragraph to report materials described in subdivision (e) of Section 11166 to an employee who is designated by the employer to receive the reports. An employee who is designated to receive reports under this subparagraph shall be a commercial computer technician for purposes of this article. A commercial computer technician who makes a report to the designated employee pursuant to this subparagraph shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of this article and shall be subject to the protections afforded to mandated reporters, including, but not limited to, those protections afforded by Section 11172. (44) Any athletic coach, including, but not limited to, an assistant coach or a graduate assistant involved in coaching, at public or private postsecondary educational institutions. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (35) of subdivision (a), volunteers of public or private organizations whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children are not mandated reporters but are encouraged to obtain training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect and are further encouraged to report known or suspected instances of child abuse or neglect to an agency specified in Section 11165.9. (c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), employers are strongly encouraged to provide their employees who are mandated reporters with training in the duties imposed by this article. This training shall include training in child abuse and neglect identification and training in child abuse and neglect reporting. Whether or not employers provide their employees with training in child abuse and neglect identification and reporting, the employers shall provide their employees who are mandated reporters with the statement required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11166.5. (d) Pursuant to Section 44691 of the Education Code, school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools shall annually train their employees and persons working on their behalf specified in subdivision (a) in the duties of mandated reporters under the child abuse reporting laws. The training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, training in child abuse and neglect identification and child abuse and neglect reporting. (e) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the absence of training shall not excuse a mandated reporter from the duties imposed by this article. (f) Public and private organizations are encouraged to provide their volunteers whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children with training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect. SEC. 5. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.