Mississippi House Bill HB798

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Reports of suspected abuse; require persons who make to give their name and contact information under certain circumstances.

Impact

The proposed amendments imply a significant change in the legal landscape for child welfare in Mississippi by formalizing the identification of individuals making reports after a history of unfounded allegations. This measure is intended to prevent frivolous claims, which could undermine the credibility of genuine reports. However, it may dissuade individuals from coming forward, fearing potential repercussions for being identified in cases where allegations are recurring but unfounded, thus impacting the overall effectiveness of abuse reporting.

Summary

House Bill 798 aims to amend specific sections of the Mississippi Code of 1972 concerning the reporting of suspected neglect or abuse of children and vulnerable persons. The bill mandates that individuals who make reports to the Department of Child Protection Services must provide their name, address, and telephone number if two reports about an alleged perpetrator have been made within a six-month period and the investigations concluded that the allegations were unfounded. This requirement aims to streamline the reporting process, ensuring accountability and thorough investigation of repeated allegations while still maintaining some level of confidentiality after cases are closed.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB798 involve the balance between protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that the reporting processes do not hinder the willingness of the public to report suspected abuse. Critics may argue that requiring personal information could result in retaliation against reporters and that it may violate the fundamental principle of confidentiality that underlies protective service systems. Supporters claim that accountability is necessary to reduce unnecessary investigations against individuals who are repeatedly reported without substantiated evidence.