Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0814 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- S 0814
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7	7	LC001472
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO HUMAN SE RVICES -- ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
16	16	Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, DiMario, Lauria, and Murray
17	17	Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
18	18	Referred To: Senate Judiciary
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Section 40-11-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-11 entitled "Abused 1
23	23	and Neglected Children" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
24	24	40-11-6.1. Penalty for failure to report or perform required act. 3
25	25	(a) Any person, official, physician, except the persons identified in subsection (b) of this 4
26	26	section, or institution required by this chapter to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect 5
27	27	or to perform any other act who knowingly fails to do so or who knowingly prevents any person 6
28	28	acting reasonably from doing so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, 7
29	29	shall be subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for not more 8
30	30	than one year or both. In addition, any person, official, physician, or institution who knowingly 9
31	31	fails to perform any act required by this chapter or who knowingly prevents another person from 10
32	32	performing a required act shall be civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by that failure. 11
33	33	(b) Any coach, teacher, school administrator, or person in a position of authority who 12
34	34	knowingly fails to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, sexual assault or battery 13
35	35	involving a child or who knowingly fails to perform any other act required by law for the protection 14
36	36	or safety of a child, or who knowingly prevents any person acting reasonably from doing so, shall 15
37	37	be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not less than five thousand 16
38	38	dollars ($5,000), nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or to imprisonment for not more 17
39	39	than five (5) years, or both. 18
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42	42	LC001472 - Page 2 of 3
43	43	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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45	45	LC001472
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49	49	LC001472 - Page 3 of 3
50	50	EXPLANATION
51	51	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
52	52	OF
53	53	A N A C T
54	54	RELATING TO HUMAN SE RVICES -- ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
55	55	***
56	56	This act would require that any coach, teacher, school administrator, or person in a position 1
57	57	of authority who knowingly fails to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, sexual assault 2
58	58	or battery involving a child or who knowingly fails to perform any other act required by law for the 3
59	59	protection or safety of a child would be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, would be subject 4
60	60	to a fine of not less the five thousand dollars ($5,000), nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), 5
61	61	or to imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both. 6
62	62	This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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64	64	LC001472
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