AB 2005: Child Abuse Central Index.

Existing law designates certain individuals, such as teachers, peace officers, physicians, and clergy members, among others, as mandated reporters and requires them to report suspected child abuse or neglect to certain specified agencies whenever the mandated reporter, in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, has knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Existing law requires specified local agencies receiving reports from mandated reporters to forward a report to the Department of Justice in writing of every case it investigates of known or suspected child abuse or severe neglect that is determined to be substantiated. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to act as a repository of reports of suspected child abuse and severe neglect to be maintained in the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI). Existing law, as of January 1, 2012, prohibits a police or sheriffs department from forwarding any such report to the Department of Justice.

This bill would instead authorize a police or sheriffs department to forward a substantiated report of suspected child abuse or severe neglect taken on or after January 1, 2019, except as specified, to the Department of Justice. The bill would require any police or sheriffs department that forwards a report to comply with the same requirements placed on other reporting agencies and would require the police or sheriffs department to adopt notification and grievance procedures that are consistent with specified regulations of the Department of Social Services. This bill would also make conforming changes.