HB1249 (2012) Detail

Relative to the child protection reporting law.


HB 1249 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2013

05/01

HOUSE BILL 1249

AN ACT relative to the child protection reporting law.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bergevin, Hills 17; Rep. Duarte, Rock 1; Rep. LeBrun, Hills 26; Rep. DeLemus, Straf 1; Rep. C. Soucy, Hills 17; Rep. Burt, Hills 7

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill requires an employee or volunteer who suspects another employee or volunteer of child abuse to make a report under the state’s child abuse reporting law. The bill also establishes an enhanced criminal penalty for a supervisor who fails to report an employee or volunteer.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2013 05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to the child protection reporting law.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Child Protection Act; Persons Required to Report Suspected Abuse. Amend RSA 169-C:29 to read as follows:

169-C:29 Persons Required to Report.

I. Any physician, surgeon, county medical examiner, psychiatrist, resident, intern, dentist, osteopath, optometrist, chiropractor, psychologist, therapist, registered nurse, hospital personnel (engaged in admission, examination, care and treatment of persons), Christian Science practitioner, teacher, school official, school nurse, school counselor, social worker, day care worker, any other child or foster care worker, law enforcement official, priest, minister, or rabbi or any other person having reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected shall report the same in accordance with this chapter.

II.(a) Any employee or volunteer of an organization who has reason to suspect that a child has been sexually abused by another employee or volunteer of the organization shall report the same in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Any supervisor of an employee or volunteer who has reason to suspect that a child has been sexually abused by the employee or volunteer shall report the same in accordance with this chapter. A supervisor who knowingly violates this subparagraph shall be guilty of a class B felony.

(c) In this paragraph, “sexually abused” shall have the same meaning as “sexual abuse” in RSA 169-C:3, XXVII.

2 Penalty for Violation. Amend RSA 169-C:39 to read as follows:

169-C:39 Penalty for Violation. Except as otherwise provided in RSA 169-C:29, II(b), anyone who knowingly violates any provision of this subdivision shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2013.