California Adds HR Personnel and Supervisors as Mandatory Reporters

The New Law Becomes Effective Jan. 1, 2021 

On Sept. 29, 2020, California amended its existing child abuse reporting law to add two new classes of mandatory reporters for employers with five or more employees:

• Human resource employees who work for businesses that employ minors; and 

• Adult supervisors who are in direct contact with, and supervise, minors (for purposes of reporting sexual abuse). 

Mandatory Reporters California law requires mandatory reporters to report child abuse or neglect. Reporting duties are triggered when mandatory reporters, during the scope of their employment, have knowledge of or reasonably suspect that a child is the victim of abuse or neglect.  Failing to report child abuse or neglect as a mandated reporter is a crime punishable by a fine of $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.  Required Training Covered employers must provide these new classes of mandatory reporter employees with training to identify and report child abuse and neglect. They can satisfy this requirement by having their employees complete the general online training for mandated reporters offered by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, part of the California Department of Social Services. However, the absence of training will not excuse mandatory reporters from their duty to report child abuse and neglect. 

Source: Zywave