AB 1963, an updated California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law, recently signed into law by Governor Newsom, lists as mandated reporters of child abuse human resources professionals and front line supervisors whose duties require direct contact with, and supervision of, minors and working for businesses with at least five employees, that also employ minors.
Note that supervisors are not mandated reporters of all types of child abuse, as defined, but only of sexual abuse. As defined in the law, child abuse includes acts and omissions constituting physical abuse, sexual abuse (including both sexual assault and sexual exploitation), willful cruelty or unjustified punishment, unlawful corporal punishment or injury, and neglect.
Employers subject to the law are required to provide training to employees who have reporting duties under the law. The training must include training in both the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect. The training requirement may be met by completing the general online training for mandated reporters offered by the
Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services.
Businesses subject to AB 1963 should begin planning as soon as possible to meet these new obligations under the law.
