REPORT TITLE:
Child Abuse


DESCRIPTION:
Those persons who are required by law to report child abuse or
neglect may now report to either the police department or the
department of human services rather than both.  Keeps
confidential the identity of the person who makes the report.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        3018
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Chapter 350, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 2 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 3 read as follows:
 
 4      "§350-      Action on reporting to police department.  The
 
 5 police department shall not identify a person reporting a case of
 
 6 child abuse or neglect under section 350-1.1, except pursuant to
 
 7 court order or with the person's written consent."
 
 8      SECTION 2.  Section 350-1.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 9 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
10      "(a)  Notwithstanding any other state law concerning
 
11 confidentiality to the contrary, the following persons who, in
 
12 their professional or official capacity, have reason to believe
 
13 that child abuse or neglect has occurred or that there exists a
 
14 substantial risk that child abuse or neglect may occur in the
 
15 reasonably foreseeable future, shall immediately report the
 
16 matter orally to the department [and] or to the police
 
17 department:
 
18      (1)  Any licensed or registered professional of the healing
 
19           arts and any health-related occupation who examines,
 

 
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 1           attends, treats, or provides other professional or
 
 2           specialized services, including but not limited to
 
 3           physicians, including physicians in training,
 
 4           psychologists, dentists, nurses, osteopathic physicians
 
 5           and surgeons, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists,
 
 6           pharmacists, and other health-related professionals;
 
 7      (2)  Employees or officers of any public or private school;
 
 8      (3)  Employees or officers of any public or private agency
 
 9           or institution, or other individuals, providing social,
 
10           medical, hospital, or mental health services, including
 
11           financial assistance;
 
12      (4)  Employees or officers of any law enforcement agency,
 
13           including but not limited to the courts, police
 
14           departments, correctional institutions, and parole or
 
15           probation offices;
 
16      (5)  Individual providers of child care, or employees or
 
17           officers of any licensed or registered child care
 
18           facility, foster home, or similar institution;
 
19      (6)  Medical examiners or coroners; and
 
20      (7)  Employees of any public or private agency providing
 
21           recreational or sports activities."
 
22      SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
23 New statutory material is underscored.
 

 
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 1      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
 2 
 
 3                       INTRODUCED BY:  ___________________________