Child abuse reporting.

Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, requires a mandated reporter, as defined, to report whenever he or she, in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, has knowledge of or observed a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Failure to report an incident is a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of 6 months, a fine of up to $1,000, or by both that imprisonment and fine. Existing law identifies commercial film and photographic print processors as mandated reporters, and requires any commercial film and photographic print processor who has knowledge of or observed in his or her professional capacity or employment any film, photograph, videotape, negative, or slide depicting a child under 16 years of age engaging in an act of sexual conduct to report the instance of suspected child abuse. This bill would expand the application of those provisions to commercial film and photographic print or image processors, as defined, and would also expand the list of media to which those provisions apply to include, among other things, any representation of information, data, or an image, as specified. This bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes and would update a cross-reference. By imposing the reporting requirements on a new class of persons, for whom 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.