Florida H.B. 1355

Florida H.B. 1355

Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse

Revises language concerning child abuse reporting. Requires any person with knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse by person other than parent or caregiver to report such knowledge/suspicion. Requires similar reporting of knowledge or suspicion of childhood sexual abuse or that child is victim of known or suspected juvenile sexual offender. Requires department of children and families (DCF) to provide for reports to be made via web-based chat. Requires all reports of child abuse by person other than parent or caregiver to be made immediately to DCF's central abuse hotline via any of specified means. Directs DCF to update the web form used for reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to incorporate specified changes, and requires the report to be made available to the counselors as needed to update the Florida Safe Families Network. Directs the department to conduct a feasibility study on using text and short message formats to receive and process reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Directs DCF to conduct public awareness campaign regarding the central abuse hotline. Increases failure to report child abuse, abandonment, or neglect (or knowingly and willingly preventing another person from making such a report) from first-degree misdemeanor to third-degree felony. Directs the department of education to require teachers in grades 1-12 to participate in continuing education training provided by the DCF on identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect.

Directs DCF to collect and analyze, in separate statistical reports, reports of child abuse and sexual abuse reported from or occurred on the campus of any public or nonpublic postsecondary institution. Provides that any public or nonpublic postsecondary institution whose administrators or law enforcement agency fail to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect occurring on a campus or at a campus-sponsored event are subject to fines of $1 million for each such failure. Provides for challenges to findings of such determinations.

Provides for upward reclassification of certain prostitution offenses involving minors. Adds new provisions providing for relocation assistance for victims of sexual battery, and providing criteria for awards. Defines "mental injury" with respect to offenses of abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of a child. Requires a physician or psychologist providing expert testimony regarding mental abuse in a criminal child abuse case to have certain credentials. Includes in definition of crime a felony or misdemeanor child abuse offense, committed by adult or juvenile, that results in mental injury. Makes an appropriation.
Bill text: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1355er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1355&Session=2012
Final bill analysis: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=h1355z.HHSC.DOCX&DocumentType=Analysis&BillNumber=1355&Session=2012

Source:
myfloridahouse.gov

Status: Signed into law Status Date: 04/29/2012

Florida H.B. 1355
Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse
Revises language concerning child abuse reporting. Requires any person with knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse by person other than parent or caregiver to report such knowledge/suspicion. Requires similar reporting of knowledge or suspicion of childhood sexual abuse or that child is victim of known or suspected juvenile sexual offender. Requires department of children and families (DCF) to provide for reports to be made via web-based chat. Requires all reports of child abuse by person other than parent or caregiver to be made immediately to DCF's central abuse hotline via any of specified means. Directs DCF to update the web form used for reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to incorporate specified changes, and requires the report to be made available to the counselors as needed to update the Florida Safe Families Network. Directs the department to conduct a feasibility study on using text and short message formats to receive and process reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Directs DCF to conduct public awareness campaign regarding the central abuse hotline. Increases failure to report child abuse, abandonment, or neglect (or knowingly and willingly preventing another person from making such a report) from first-degree misdemeanor to third-degree felony. Directs the department of education to require teachers in grades 1-12 to participate in continuing education training provided by the DCF on identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect. Directs DCF to collect and analyze, in separate statistical reports, reports of child abuse and sexual abuse reported from or occurred on the campus of any public or nonpublic postsecondary institution. Provides that any public or nonpublic postsecondary institution whose administrators or law enforcement agency fail to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect occurring on a campus or at a campus-sponsored event are subject to fines of $1 million for each such failure. Provides for challenges to findings of such determinations. Provides for upward reclassification of certain prostitution offenses involving minors. Adds new provisions providing for relocation assistance for victims of sexual battery, and providing criteria for awards. Defines "mental injury" with respect to offenses of abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of a child. Requires a physician or psychologist providing expert testimony regarding mental abuse in a criminal child abuse case to have certain credentials. Includes in definition of crime a felony or misdemeanor child abuse offense, committed by adult or juvenile, that results in mental injury. Makes an appropriation. Bill text: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1355er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1355&Session=2012 Final bill analysis: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=h1355z.HHSC.DOCX&DocumentType=Analysis&BillNumber=1355&Session=2012
Source: myfloridahouse.gov
Status: Signed into law	Status Date: 04/29/2012