California Senate Bill SB332 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 332INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Block FEBRUARY 23, 2015 An act to amend Section 11165.9 of the Penal Code, relating to child abuse reporting. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 332, as introduced, Block. Child abuse reporting. Existing law requires a mandated reporter, as defined, to report suspected child abuse or neglect to a police department or sheriff's department, not including a school district police or security department, county probation department, if designated by the county to receive mandated reports, or the county welfare department. This bill would additionally authorize a mandated reporter to make those reports to a school district police department. By imposing additional duties on a school district, this bill would create 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. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 11165.9 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 11165.9. Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be made by mandated reporters, or in the case of reports pursuant to Section 11166.05, may be made, to any  of the   following:   (1)     A    police  department or   department.   (2)     A  sheriff's  department, not including a   department.   (3)     A  school district police  or security  department,  not including a   school district security department.   (4)     A  county probation department, if designated by the county to receive mandated  reports, or the   reports.   (5)     The  county welfare department.  Any   (b)     Any  of those agencies shall accept a report of suspected child abuse or neglect whether offered by a mandated reporter or another person, or referred by another agency, even if the agency to whom the report is being made lacks subject matter or geographical jurisdiction to investigate the reported case, unless the agency can immediately electronically transfer the call to an agency with proper jurisdiction. When an agency takes a report about a case of suspected child abuse or neglect in which that agency lacks jurisdiction, the agency shall immediately refer the case by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission to an agency with proper jurisdiction.  Agencies   (c)     Agencies  that are required to receive reports of suspected child abuse or neglect may not refuse to accept a report of suspected child abuse or neglect from a mandated reporter or another person unless otherwise authorized pursuant to this section, and shall maintain a record of all reports received. SEC. 2. 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.