Relating to mandatory child abuse and dependent adult abuse reporter training requirements

Current law provides that a hospital or similar institution, or a public or private institution, agency, or facility are responsible for providing mandatory reporter training to employees who are mandatory reporters of child abuse and dependent adult abuse.11 (relating to the duties of the director of the department of public health); or a training program using an approved curriculum offered by the appropriate public agency. The bill strikes current law and requires the department of human services to develop curriculum and provide training for all mandatory reporters of child abuse and dependent adult abuse, regardless of the manner in which the person is employed. Under the bill, an employer of a person required by law to make a report of child abuse or dependent adult abuse may provide supplemental child abuse and dependent adult abuse training, specific to the identification and reporting of child abuse or dependent adult abuse as it relates to the person’s professional practice, in addition to the core training provided by DHS. The bill increases the frequency of training for mandatory child abuse and dependent adult abuse reporters from once every five years to once every three years, and provides a transition provision for persons who received a child abuse or dependent adult abuse training certificate prior to July 1, 2019. Under current law, a person required to report both child abuse and dependent adult abuse may complete the requisite training through a combined training program. The bill strikes current law and requires such persons to complete separate child abuse training and dependent adult abuse training.