Mandated child abuse reporting: library employees.

Existing law requires certain persons specified as "mandated reporters" to report suspected child abuse or child neglect, as specified, and provides that failure to report as required is an offense. This bill would include employees in public libraries as mandated reporters, for purposes of reporting the use of computers in public libraries, discovered in the course of their duties, to access, on the Internet or from other sources, any material that would constitute depictions of sexual exploitation, as described. By expanding the list of mandated reporters, for whom the failure to report specified conduct is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.