CHILD PROTECTION – Amends existing law to provide for a higher evidentiary standard and to require reliable evidence for reports.

This bill modifies Idaho's child protection laws by updating definitions and procedures related to abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It clarifies what constitutes abuse and abandonment, including specific examples of physical harm and sexual exploitation, and establishes a one-year standard for determining abandonment. The legislation also revises provisions regarding legal immunity for reporters, shelter care hearings, and adjudicatory hearings to ensure reliable evidence is required for reports. These changes affect child welfare agencies, courts, and individuals involved in reporting or investigating child maltreatment cases.