RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 207 (HB 371) 2018 Regular Session Chaney
Existing law provides relative to the reporting of child abuse and neglect cases.
Prior law required reports of child abuse or neglect where the abuser is believed to be a
parent or caretaker, a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement
relationship with the parent or caretaker, or a person living in the same residence with the
parent or caretaker as a spouse whether married or not, to be made to the Dept. of Children
and Family Services (DCFS) through the designated state child protection reporting hotline
telephone number.
New law requires such reports to be made to DCFS but requires permitted reporters to make
reports to the designated child protection reporting hotline. New law also adds reporting in
person at any DCFS child welfare office as a means for permitted reporters to report
suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
New law provides that mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect shall report
such cases through the DCFS designated child protection reporting hotline, via the DCFS
Mandated Reporter Portal online, or in person at any child welfare office.
New law stipulates that making a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to DCFS by
facsimile does not relieve the reporter of his duty to report in accordance with existing law
and new law.
Prior law provided that if a mandatory reporter's initial report of suspected child abuse or
neglect was in oral form, then it shall be followed by a written report made within five days
to the local child protection unit of DCFS. New law revises prior law to provide that if a
mandatory reporter's initial report was in oral form, then it shall be followed by a written
report made within five days via the online DCFS Mandated Reporter Portal or by mail to
the DCFS centralized intake unit.
Effective August 1, 2018.
(Amends Ch. C. Art. 610(A) and (D))