HB0316 - Abuse reporting.

 

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0603

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO.  HB0316

 

 

Abuse reporting.

 

Sponsored by:

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

 1  AN ACT relating to reporting of abuse; providing for the
 2  reporting of abuse as specified; providing immunity; and
 3  providing for an effective date.

 4 

 5  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 6 

 7         Section 1.  W.S. 20-2-201 by creating a new subsection
 8  (g) and 35-20-103(a) are amended to read:

 9 

10         20-2-201.  Disposition and maintenance of children in
11  decree or order; access to records; abuse reporting.

12 

13         (g)  Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to
14  believe or suspect that a child has been abused or
15  neglected or who observes any child being subjected to
16  conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in

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 1  abuse or neglect, shall immediately report it to the child
 2  protective agency or local law enforcement agency or cause
 3  a report to be made. If a person reporting child abuse or
 4  neglect is a member of the staff of a medical or other
 5  public or private institution, school, facility or agency,
 6  he shall notify the person in charge or his designated
 7  agent as soon as possible, who is thereupon also
 8  responsible to make the report or cause the report to be
 9  made. Nothing in this subsection is intended to relieve
10  individuals of their obligation to report on their own
11  behalf unless a report has already been made or will be
12  made. Any person, official, institution or agency
13  participating in good faith in any act required by this
14  subsection is immune from any civil or criminal liability
15  that might otherwise result by reason of the action. For
16  the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good
17  faith of any person, official, institution or agency
18  participating in any act permitted or required by this
19  subsection shall be presumed.

20 

21         35-20-103.  Reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation
22  of disabled adult; reports maintained in central registry.

23 

 

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 1         (a)  Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to
 2  believe or suspect that a disabled adult has been or is
 3  being abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned shall
 4  immediately report the facts to the sheriff's department,
 5  the local police department or the division.
If a person
 6  reporting the abuse or neglect is a member of the staff of
 7  a medical or other public or private institution, school,
 8  facility or agency, he shall notify the person in charge or
 9  his designated agent as soon as possible, who is thereupon
10  also responsible to make the report or cause the report to
11  be made.Nothing in this subsection is intended to relieve
12  individuals of their obligation to report on their own
13  behalf unless a report has already been made or will be
14  made. Anyone whoAny person, official, institution or
15  agency participating in good faith makes a report pursuant
16  to this section is immune from civil or criminal liability
17  for that might otherwise result by reason of making the
18  report. For the purpose of any civil or criminal
19  proceeding, the good faith of any person, official,
20  institution or agency making the report pursuant to this
21  section shall be presumed.

22 

 

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 1         Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2001.

 2 

 3                         (END)

 

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