BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

2579

(A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW RELATING TO PRIVILEGED
COMMUNICATIONS, EVERY HEALTH PRACTITIONER, EDUCATOR, SOCIAL

WORKER, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR AGENCY AGENCY OR

OFFICER WHO CONTACTS, EXAMINES, ATTENDS, OR TREATS A CHILD
OR WHO BELIEVES, OR HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHILD IS
A NEGLECTED CHILD IS REQUIRED: (1) TO NOTIFY THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; AND (2) IF ACTING IN HIS
CAPACITY AS A MEMBER OF THE STAFF OF A HOSPITAL, PUBLIC
HEALTH AGENCY, CHILD-CARE INSTITUTION, JUVENILE DETENTION
CENTER, SCHOOL OR SIMILAR INSTITUTION, IS ALSO REQUIRED
IMMEDIATELY TO NOTIFY THE HEAD OF THE INSTITUTION, OR HIS
DESIGNEE.

(B)        AN ORAL OR WRITTEN REPORT SHALL BE MADE AS SOON

AS IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT, IN ANY
CASE, A WRITTEN REPORT MUST BE MADE WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER
THE OCCURRENCE OF THE CONTACT, EXAMINATION, TREATMENT OR
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH GIVE RISE TO THE BELIEF THAT THE
CHILD IS A NEGLECTED CHILD.

(C) ANY PERSON OTHER THAN A HEALTH PRACTITIONER,

EDUCATOR, SOCIAL WORKER, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHO HAS REASON TO BELIEVE A CHILD IS A

NEGLECTED CHILD MAY REPORT THE NEGLECT TO THE LOCAL

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. A REPORT MADE BY THE PERSON

MAY BE EITHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, OR BOTH, AND THE REPORT SHALL

CONTAIN IF POSSIBLE, ALL THE INFORMATION ENUMERATED IN

SECTION 7.

(C) A PERSON REQUIRED TO NOTIFY AND REPORT UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION NEED NOT COMPLY WITH THE
NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION IF:

(1) EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE OR WILL BE MADE TO
ALLEVIATE THE CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY CAUSE
THE CHILD TO BE CONSIDERED A NEGLECTED CHILD AND IT IS
CONCLUDED BY THE HEALTH PRACTITIONER, EDUCATOR, SOCIAL
WORKER, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR OFFICER THAT THESE
EFFORTS WILL ALLEVIATE THESE CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES; OR

(2) THE HEALTH PRACTITIONER, EDUCATOR, SOCIAL

WORKER, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR OFFICER BELIEVES THAT

THE NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING WOULD INHIBIT THE CHILD,

PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN FROM SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN

THE FUTURE AND THEREBY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CHILD'S
WELFARE.

7.

AN ORAL OR WRITTEN REPORT SHALL CONTAIN AS MUCH OF THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS THE PERSON MAKING THE REPORT IS
ABLE TO FURNISH AND MAY CONTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHICH WOULD ASSIST THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT IN DETERMINING THE
CAUSE AND EXTENT OF NEGLECT, IF ANY, AND THE IDENTITY OF THE
PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE THEREFOR.:

6.