By Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 112) of Stephen P. LeDuc and others relative to the mandatory reporting of child abuse by health care practitioners.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

——————

PETITION OF:

Stephen P. LeDuc

John W. Scibak

Thomas M. McGee

——————

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

——————

An Act relative to the mandatory reporting of child abuse.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 112 of the general laws is hereby amended by added adding the following new section:

Section 1B.  Continuing medical education requirements in child abuse recognition and reporting.

Any practitioner of healthcare who is licensed by the commonwealth to engage in the examination, care or treatment of persons, and who is subject to the requirements of section 51A of chapter 119, shall complete a minimum of four hours or credits of training in the identification and reporting of child abuse. 

The practitioner shall obtain training from a Board and Department approved institution or provider.  The practitioner shall satisfy these requirements only through training including information regarding the physical indicators of child abuse and the statutory reporting requirements in section 51A of this chapter.

A practitioner applying for or renewing a license to practice shall provide the Department with documentation showing that he or she completed the required training.  A practitioner who shows, to the Department's satisfaction, that there would be no need for him or her to complete such training may apply for exemption from the requirement.

"Department:" the Department of Social Services.