HB 2712 Summary

• Removes the requirement for clergy, priests, and Christian Science practitioners to obtain consent before disclosing confidential communications or confessions involving child abuse in civil actions.

• Requires members of clergy, Christian Science practitioners, and priests to report knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect to law enforcement or the Department of Child Safety, except for confidential communications unless the abuse is ongoing or will occur in the future.

• Modifies the clergy-penitent privilege in child abuse cases to permit examination as a witness when the clergy member determines there is reasonable suspicion that abuse is ongoing or may occur in the future.

• Establishes that the clergy privilege exemption applies only to confidential communications about ongoing or future abuse, not to personal observations the clergy member makes of the minor.