Senate Bill No. 383–Senator Shaffer

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to the protection of children; expanding the provisions governing the persons who are required to report the abuse or neglect of children to include any adult person who is employed by an entity that provides organized activities for children; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

    Section 1. NRS 432B.220 is hereby amended to read as

follows:

    432B.220  1.  Any person who is described in subsection 3

and who, in his professional or occupational capacity, knows or has

reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected

shall:

    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, report the

abuse or neglect of the child to an agency which provides child

welfare services or to a law enforcement agency; and

    (b) Make such a report as soon as reasonably practicable but not

later than 24 hours after the person knows or has reasonable cause to

believe that the child has been abused or neglected.

    2.  If a person who is required to make a report pursuant to

subsection 1 knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the abuse

or neglect of the child involves an act or omission of:

    (a) A person directly responsible or serving as a volunteer for or

an employee of a public or private home, institution or facility

where the child is receiving child care outside of his home for a

portion of the day, the person shall make the report to a law

enforcement agency.

    (b) An agency which provides child welfare services or a law

enforcement agency, the person shall make the report to an agency

other than the one alleged to have committed the act or omission,

and the investigation of the abuse or neglect of the child must be

made by an agency other than the one alleged to have committed the

act or omission.

    3.  A report must be made pursuant to subsection 1 by the

following persons:

    (a) A physician, dentist, dental hygienist, chiropractor,

optometrist, podiatric physician, medical examiner, resident, intern,

professional or practical nurse, physician assistant, psychiatrist,

psychologist, marriage and family therapist, alcohol or drug abuse

counselor, advanced emergency medical technician or other person

providing medical services licensed or certified in this state;

    (b) Any personnel of a hospital or similar institution engaged in

the admission, examination, care or treatment of persons or an

administrator, manager or other person in charge of a hospital or

similar institution upon notification of suspected abuse or neglect of

a child by a member of the staff of the hospital;

    (c) A coroner;

    (d) A clergyman, practitioner of Christian Science or religious

healer, unless he has acquired the knowledge of the abuse or neglect

from the offender during a confession;

    (e) A social worker and an administrator, teacher, librarian or

counselor of a school;

    (f) Any person who maintains or is employed by a facility or

establishment that provides care for children, children’s camp or

other public or private facility, institution or agency furnishing care

to a child;

    (g) Any person licensed to conduct a foster home;

    (h) Any officer or employee of a law enforcement agency or an

adult or juvenile probation officer;

    (i) An attorney, unless he has acquired the knowledge of the

abuse or neglect from a client who is or may be accused of the abuse

or neglect;

    (j) Any person who maintains, is employed by or serves as a

volunteer for an agency or service which advises persons regarding

abuse or neglect of a child and refers them to persons and agencies

where their requests and needs can be met; [and]

    (k) Any person who is employed by or serves as a volunteer for

an approved youth shelter. As used in this paragraph, “approved

youth shelter” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 244.422[.] ;

and

    (l) Any adult person who is employed by an entity that provides

organized activities for children.

    4.  A report may be made by any other person.

    5.  If a person who is required to make a report pursuant to

subsection 1 knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child

has died as a result of abuse or neglect, the person shall, as soon as

reasonably practicable, report this belief to the appropriate medical

examiner or coroner, who shall investigate the report and submit to

an agency which provides child welfare services his written

findings. The written findings must include, if obtainable, the

information required pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2 of

NRS 432B.230.

    Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

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