AZ HB2016

Amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 13-3620 to clarify the duty to report child abuse and defines "penitent confessor" as a parishioner or congregant meeting with clergy, Christian Science practitioners, or priests in their official capacity to discuss conduct within their religion and state law.

Members of the clergy, Christian Science practitioners, and priests may withhold reporting of confessions from penitent confessors if reasonably determined necessary within their religion's concepts, but this exemption applies only to formal confessions and not to personal observations or other communications.

Clarifies that the confession exemption does not apply when clergy members act in other capacities requiring reporting and does not modify their duty to report known or suspected child abuse outside of formal penitent confessions.

Specifies that communications not made as formal confessions from penitent confessors do not qualify for the exemption, and clergy remain subject to the full reporting requirements under the law.