Sen. Prieto Proposes Bill to Stop Anonymous Child Abuse Reports, Introduces New Tracking
KOKH - January 23, 2024 5:14 am
A bill has been filed by Sen. Dana Prieto that would prohibit anonymous reports of suspected child abuse (PHOTO: OK Senate).
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A bill has been filed by Sen. Dana Prieto that would prohibit anonymous reports of suspected child abuse.
The bill would require the reporter’s name, phone number, and home address to be recorded.
The bill would require ‘hotline-specific training’ which includes interviewing skills, narrative writing, necessary computer systems, and more.
It further states that the department would be required to track the number of calls screened out, referrals assigned, calls received by persons unwilling to disclose personal information, and the number of calls in which the allegations were later found to be unsubstantiated or ruled out.
It would also require ‘every school employee having reason to believe that a student under the age of eighteen years is a victim of abuse or neglect shall report the matter immediately to the Department of Human Services and local law enforcement.’
Another facet of the bill is that ‘any other healthcare professional or midwife involved in the prenatal care of expectant mothers or the delivery or care of infants shall promptly report to the Department instances in which an infant tests positive for alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance.’
A bill has been filed by Sen. Dana Prieto that would prohibit anonymous reports of suspected child abuse. Click here to view the PDF file.
Other bills being filed:
