Mandated reporters: statute of limitations.

Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, makes certain persons, including teachers and social workers, mandated reporters. Under existing law, mandated reporters are required to report whenever the mandated reporter, in their professional capacity or within the scope of their employment, has knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Failure by a mandated reporter to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect is a misdemeanor. Existing law generally requires prosecution of a misdemeanor to commence within one year after commission of the offense. Under existing law, a case involving the failure to report an incident known or reasonably suspected by the mandated reporter to be sexual assault may be filed at any time within 5 years from the date of occurrence of the offense. This bill would allow a case involving the failure to report an incident known or reasonably suspected by the mandated reporter to be child abuse or severe neglect, as defined, to be filed within one year of the discovery of the offense, but in no case later than 4 years after the commission of the offense.