HB22-1240: Enhancing Mandatory Reporting for Child Abuse

• Creates a Mandatory Reporter Task Force within the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman to analyze best practices and recommend changes to mandatory reporting training requirements and procedures, with particular focus on addressing disproportionate impacts on under-resourced communities, communities of color, and persons with disabilities.

• Task Force must submit a first-year status report by January 1, 2024, and a final report by January 1, 2025, to the legislature, governor, and state department with findings and recommendations on 19 specific issues including implicit bias training, alternative services, medical child abuse reporting, and effectiveness of mandatory reporting.

• Establishes a 51-member task force consisting of government agency representatives, law enforcement, education, healthcare, legal professionals, child advocacy organizations, and 5 members with lived experience in the mandatory reporting system, with appointments required by December 1, 2022.

• Appropriates $97,500 to the Judicial Department's Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman for 2022-23 fiscal year to implement the task force and related program costs.

• Task Force automatically repeals July 1, 2025, and bill takes effect 90 days after legislative adjournment, subject to voter approval if a referendum petition is filed.