HB 17-1185 Summary

• Expands access to child abuse and neglect records to include officials and employees of county departments of health, human services, or social services.

• Adds psychologist candidates, marriage and family therapist candidates, and licensed professional counselor candidates to the list of mandatory reporters required to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

• Extends the timeframe for county departments to provide feedback information to mandatory reporters from 30 calendar days to 60 calendar days after receipt of a report.

• Adds educators providing services through the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and emergency medical service providers to the list of mandatory reporters.

• Takes effect December 31, 2017, subject to a possible referendum petition requiring voter approval by November 2018 election.