SB 409 — Revises provisions relating to the reporting and investigation of child abuse or neglect. (BDR 38-357)

S.B.Senate Bill No.

409409–Committee SENATEon BHealth ILLNand O.Human Services CHAPTER..........

409–COMMITTEE ON H EALTH AND H UMAN SERVICES (O N BEHALF OF THE JOINT NTERIM S TANDING COMMITTEE ON H EALTH AND H UMAN S ERVICES ) M ARCH 20, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to the reporting and investigation of child abuse or neglect.

(BDR 38-357) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

No.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Existing federal law establishes a program to award grants to states to support programs to prevent the abuse or neglect of children and to treat children who have grantbeen toabused submit a plan that includes assurances that the state has in effect provisions of law granting immunity from civil or criminalneglected. liability to a person who:

(1)Existing makesfederal law requires states applying for such a goodgrant faithto reportsubmit ofa suspectedplan orthat knownincludes instancesassurances that the state has in effect provisions of childlaw abusegranting immunity from civil or neglect;criminal liability to a person who:

or(1) (2)makes otherwise provides information or assistance in connection with a report,report,lect; investigation or legal intervention pursuant to a report.

or (2) investigation or legal intervention pursuant to a report.

§ 5106a) Existing state law sets forth certain specific actions relating to such a report, investigation or legal intervention for which a person is granted immunity from civil or criminal liability.

(NRS 432B.160)ch432B.160) a person is granted immunity from This bill adds to the list of actions for which a person is granted immunity reviewing or providing consultation or a medical opinion concerning photographs, x-rays and other medical tests taken by a person investigating a report of abuse or neglect of a child.

This bill also authorizes a court to award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a person who is required to report suspected or known abuse or - *SB409* – 2 – neglect of a child who prevails in a civil action to impose liability against him or her for performing such an act.

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

- 83rd Session (2025) – 2 – (c) Allows , [or] takes , reviews or provides consultation or a medical opinion concerning photographs or X-rays pursuant to NRS 432B.270;

(f) Provides a record, or a copy thereof, of a medical test performed pursuant to NRS 432B.270 to an agency which provides child welfare services to the child, a law enforcement agency that participated in the investigation of the report made pursuant to NRS 432B.220432[(f)] (g) Holds a child pursuant to NRS 432B.400, takes possession of a child pursuant to NRS 432B.630 or theplaces prosecutinga attorney’schild office;in protective custody pursuant to any provision of this chapter;

[(f)] (g) Holds a child pursuant to NRS 432B.400, takes possession of a child pursuant to NRS 432B.630 or places a child in protective custody pursuant to any provision of this chapter;

If a person who is required to report the abuse or neglect of a child pursuant to NRS 432B.220 prevails in a civil action - *SB409* – 3 – brought to impose liability against the person for performing any act described in subsection 1, the court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred by the person in defending the action.

H~~~~~ 25 - *SB409*83rd Session (2025)