2023 -- S 0814
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LC001472
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SE RVICES -- ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, DiMario, Lauria, and Murray
Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 40-11-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-11 entitled "Abused 1
and Neglected Children" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
40-11-6.1. Penalty for failure to report or perform required act. 3
(a) Any person, official, physician, except the persons identified in subsection (b) of this 4
section, or institution required by this chapter to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect 5
or to perform any other act who knowingly fails to do so or who knowingly prevents any person 6
acting reasonably from doing so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, 7
shall be subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for not more 8
than one year or both. In addition, any person, official, physician, or institution who knowingly 9
fails to perform any act required by this chapter or who knowingly prevents another person from 10
performing a required act shall be civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by that failure. 11
(b) Any coach, teacher, school administrator, or person in a position of authority who 12
knowingly fails to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, sexual assault or battery 13
involving a child or who knowingly fails to perform any other act required by law for the protection 14
or safety of a child, or who knowingly prevents any person acting reasonably from doing so, shall 15
be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not less than five thousand 16
dollars ($5,000), nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or to imprisonment for not more 17
than five (5) years, or both. 18
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SE RVICES -- ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
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This act would require that any coach, teacher, school administrator, or person in a position 1
of authority who knowingly fails to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, sexual assault 2
or battery involving a child or who knowingly fails to perform any other act required by law for the 3
protection or safety of a child would be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, would be subject 4
to a fine of not less the five thousand dollars ($5,000), nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), 5
or to imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both. 6
This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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LC001472
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