Child abuse reporting: mandated reporters.

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 up to 6 months, a fine of $1,000, or by both. This bill would include in the list of individuals who are mandated reporters any athletic coach, including, but not limited to, an assistant coach or a graduate assistant involved in coaching at a public or private postsecondary institution. By imposing the mandated reporting requirement 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. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code, proposed by AB 1434, AB 1435, AB 1713, and AB 1817, to be operative only if AB 1434, AB 1435, AB 1713, or AB 1817 and this bill are chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2013, and this bill is chaptered last. 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.