SB 899 — Modifies provisions relating to abuse and neglect reporting, including a requirement to report companion animal abuse

SECOND4274S.04C REGULARSENATE SESSIONCOMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILLNO.BILL NO.

899 103RDAN GENERALASSEMBLYACT INTRODUCEDTo BYrepeal SENATORsections MCCREERY.192.2405 and 210.115, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof six new sections relating to reporting of abuse and neglect, with penalty provisions.

4274S.01I KRISTINAMARTIN, Secretary ANACT To repeal sections 192.2405 and 210.115, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof six new sections relating to reporting of abuse and neglect, with penalty provisions.

and (2) Any adult day care worker, animal control officer, animal humane investigator as defined in section 273.415, chiropractor, Christian Science practitioner, coroner, dentist, embalmer, employee of the departments of social services, mental health, or health and senior services, employee of a local area agency on aging or an organized area agency on aging program, emergency medical technician, firefighter, first responder, funeral director, home health agency, home health agency employee, hospital and clinic SB 899 2 personnel engaged in the care or treatment of others, in- home services owner or provider, in-home services operator or employee, law enforcement officer, long-term care facility administrator or employee, medical examiner, medical resident or intern, mental health professional, minister, nurse, nurse practitioner, optometrist, other health practitioner, peace officer, pharmacist, physical therapist, physician, physician's assistant, podiatrist, probation or parole officer, psychologist, social worker, or other person with the responsibility for the care of an eligible adult who has reasonable cause to suspect that the eligible adult has been subjected to abuse or neglect or observes the eligible adult being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.

Such persons may include, but shall not be limited to, emergency first SB 899 3 responders, police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical technicians.

All persons providing protective services to eligible adults, as such terms are defined in section 192.2400, and who have direct contact with such adults, shall be required to complete at least one hourand one- half hours of training within the first sixty days of employment.

The department of health and senior services, in consultation with animalthe welfaredepartment associations,of agriculture, shall develop or adapt and use available training materials for the training required under this section.

As used in this section, the followingterm terms"animal" shall mean:mean dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds.

(1)210.115. "Animal", the same meaning as in section 578.029;

(2) "Animal welfare association", a nonprofit organization that is established to promote animal welfare, is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax exempt under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4), or the corresponding section of any future tax code, and is registered with the secretary of state under chapter 355.

SB 899 4 210.115.

If two or more members of a medical institution who are required to report jointly have knowledge of a known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, a single SB 899 5 report may be made by a designated member of that medical team.

Such an exception shall not limit the administrative or judicial authority of the state to ensure that medical SB 899 6 services are provided to the child when the child's health requires it.

SB 899 7 8.

All children's division employees, and contractors for children's services, who have direct contact with children through the state's child protection and welfare system shall be required to complete at least one hourand one-half hours of training within the first sixty days of employment or contract.

SB 899 8 (1) Requirements to report animal abuse or neglect and the penalties associated with failure to report under section 273.410;

The division, in consultation with animalthe welfaredepartment associations,of agriculture, shall develop or adapt and use available training materials for the training required under this section.

As used in this section, the followingterm terms"animal" shall mean:mean dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds.

(1) "Animal", the same meaning as in section 578.029;

(2) "Animal welfare association", the same meaning as in section 192.2510.

When any psychologist, mental health professional, social worker, school counselor, teacher, or other school professional, or juvenile officer, law enforcement or peace officer, probation or parole officer, home health aide, adult or child protective services worker, or volunteer or personnel of a community service program that offers support or advocacy services for children in foster care has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes an animal being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, that person shall make a report to the hotline established and SB 899 9 operated by the Missouri Animal Control Association (MACA) within one day.

SB 899 10 6.

SB 899 11 9.

As used in this section, the term "animal" shall havemean thedogs, samecats, meaningrabbits, asand inbirds. section 578.029.

All persons employed or serving as animal control officers or animal humane investigators who have direct contact with animals shall be required to complete at least one hourand one-half hours of training within the first sixty days of employment.

The children's division and the department of health and senior services, in consultation with animalthe welfaredepartment associations,of agriculture, shall develop or adapt and use available training materials for the training required under this section.

As used in this section, the following terms shallshall: mean:

(1) "Animal", thedogs, samecats, meaningrabbits, asand inbirds; section 578.029;

(2) "Animal humane investigator", a duly-authorized county or municipal animal control officer or any Missouri peace officer standards and training (POST)-certified or Missouri Animal Control Association (MACA)-certified animal cruelty investigator;investigator.

SB11 899 12 (3) "Animal welfare association", the same meaning as in section 192.2510.