Crimes: mandated reporters.

Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, establishes procedures for the reporting and investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect. The act requires certain professionals, including specified health practitioners and social workers, known as "mandated reporters," to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect to a local law enforcement agency or a county welfare or probation department, as specified. Failure by a mandated reporter to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect is a misdemeanor. Existing law defines "neglect" for these purposes as the negligent treatment or the maltreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child's welfare. Existing law defines "general neglect" as the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred. This bill would limit the definition of general neglect to only include circumstances where the child is at substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm or illness, and would provide that general neglect does not include a parent's economic disadvantage. The bill would make other technical and clarifying changes.