Bill Text: PA HB1142 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Further providing for immunity from liability; and providing for false reports of child abuse.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-21 - Referred to JUDICIARY [HB1142 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB1142-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  1244

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1142

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY WATERS, LONGIETTI AND STABACK, MARCH 21, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 21, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes, further providing for immunity from

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liability; and providing for false reports of child abuse.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 6318 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

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§ 6318.  Immunity from liability.

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(a)  General rule.--A person, hospital, institution, school,

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facility, agency or agency employee that participates in good

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faith in the making of a report, whether required or not,

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cooperating with an investigation, including providing

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information to a child fatality or near fatality review team,

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testifying in a proceeding arising out of an instance of

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suspected child abuse, the taking of photographs or the removal

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or keeping of a child pursuant to section 6315 (relating to

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taking child into protective custody), and any official or

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employee of a county agency who refers a report of suspected

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abuse to law enforcement authorities or provides services under

 


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this chapter, shall have immunity from civil and criminal

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liability that might otherwise result by reason of those actions

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except as provided under section 6320 (relating to false reports

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of child abuse).

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(b)  Presumption of good faith.--For the purpose of any civil

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or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required to

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report pursuant to section 6311 (relating to persons required to

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report suspected child abuse) and of any person required to make

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a referral to law enforcement officers under this chapter shall

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be presumed and may be rebutted only by clear and convincing

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evidence.

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Section 2.  Title 23 is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 6320.  False reports of child abuse.

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A person who knowingly or intentionally makes a report of

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child abuse under this chapter that the person knows is false

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commits a misdemeanor.

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Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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