HB300--REPORTINGOFABUSEORNEGLECT
SPONSOR: Roberts
Thisbillrequiresveterinarians, animalcontrolofficers,and
animalhumaneinvestigatorstobemandatedreportersincasesof
abuseandneglectofchildren,theelderly,andothervulnerable
persons. Additionally,anyanimalcontrolofficeroranimalhumane
investigatorshallberequiredtoreceiveonehouroftraining
withinthefirst60daysofemploymenttorecognizethesignsof
abuseorneglectinchildren,theelderly,andvulnerablepersons.
Thisbillcreatesamandatedreportingrequirementforcertain
mentalhealth,educational,protectiveservices,andlaw
enforcementpersonneltoreportcasesofcompanionanimalabuseor
neglecttoahotlineestablishedbytheMissouriAnimalControl
Association(MACA).A"companionanimal"isdefinedinthebillas
alivingcreaturemaintainedbyahouseholdmemberfor
companionshipandnotcommercialpurposes. MACAshallprovidethe
reportofabuseorneglecttoanyduly-authorizedlawenforcement
official,countyormunicipalanimalcontrolofficer,oranimal
crueltyinvestigator. Ifthemandatedreporterisanemployeeof
anagencyorpoliticalsubdivisionofthestateandfailstomakea
reportasrequiredunderthisprovision,theemployershallsenda
writtennoticetotheemployeenotingthefailureandprovidinga
reminderoftherequirementsofreportingcompanionanimalabuseor
neglect. Additionally,amandatedreporterwhofailstomakea
reportshallbesubjecttodisciplinebyhisorherprofessional
licensingboard,aswellasafine,asdescribedinthebill.
Finally,protectiveservicesemployeeswithdirectcontactwith
children,theelderly,orvulnerablepersonsshallberequiredto
receiveonehouroftrainingwithinthefirst60daysofemployment
torecognizethesignsofabuseorneglectincompanionanimals.
ThisbillissimilartoSB1182(2022).