CHAPTER 5. CHILD ABUSE REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION

Art. 609. Mandatory and permitted reporting; training requirements

            A. With respect to mandatory reporters:

            (1)(a) Notwithstanding any claim of privileged communication, any mandatory reporter who has cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect or that abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death shall report in accordance with Article 610.

            (b) For purposes of this Article, the pregnancy of a child under the age of thirteen years shall constitute cause to consider whether the child has been abused.

            (2) Violation of the duties imposed upon a mandatory reporter subjects the offender to criminal prosecution authorized by R.S. 14:403(A)(1).

            (3)(a) Mandatory reporters shall be offered training on the statutory requirements and responsibility of reporting child abuse and neglect and how to identify the signs and symptoms of child neglect and abuse, including sexual abuse and human trafficking. The training shall be made available by the Department of Children and Family Services. The department may provide for an annual competency assessment which may be used for training purposes.

            (b) The appropriate state regulatory department, board, commission, or agency for each category of mandatory reporter shall provide continuing education credit for the completion of the training pursuant to this Paragraph.

            (c) Any entity, including but not limited to hospitals, educational and religious institutions, and nonprofits, may provide its employees, volunteers, or educational attendees with equivalent training pursuant to Subsubparagraph (a) of this Subparagraph.

            B. With respect to permitted reporters, any other person having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect, including a judge of any court of this state, may report in accordance with Article 610.

            C. The filing of a report, known to be false, may subject the offender to criminal prosecution authorized by R.S. 14:403(A)(3).

            Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 637, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 2013, No. 163, §1; Acts 2020, No. 122, §1, eff. June 9, 2020; Acts 2026, No. 960, §5, eff. Jan. 1, 2027.