California AB 1963 – Child Abuse or Neglect: Mandated Reporters

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1963 into law, which took effect January 1, 2021. AB 1963 expanded the list of mandated reporters under California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, and added training requirements. 

Human resources personnel of businesses with five or more employees that employs minors are now  mandated reporters. The law defines a human resources employee as an individual designated by the  employer to accept complaints regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, etc. under California’s  Fair Employment and Housing Act.  

Additionally, supervisory employees of businesses with five or more employees, whose duties require  direct contact with and supervision of minors, are now mandated reporters for sexual abuse.  

Mandated reporters are required to make formal reports of suspected child abuse or neglect to a law  enforcement agency. Under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, child abuse includes sexual  abuse, neglect, willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child,  and lawful corporal punishment or injury.  

Businesses subject to this law must provide training to employees who are mandated reporters. The  training must include identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect. Employees can fulfill this  training requirement by completing the online training offered by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention  in the California Department of Social Services.