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) To familiarize mandatory reporters, as defined by Children's Code Article 603, with their legal mandate for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect, such mandatory reporters shall be offered training on the statutory requirements and responsibility of reporting child abuse and neglect. This training shall be made available by the child welfare division of the Department of Children and Family Services or any other mechanism as approved by the department as long as it includes information on the reporting procedure and the consequences of failing to report.

            (b) Each mandatory reporter may obtain mandatory reporting training as each mandatory reporter believes to be necessary in accordance with Subsubparagraph (a) or (d) of this Subparagraph.

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

            (d) 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.