Crimes: mandated reporters: severe neglect.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
In Floor Process
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill updates the definition of ‘severe neglect’ under California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. It expands the definition to include situations where a person responsible for a child’s welfare fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, leading to serious illness, injury, or risk of harm, including severe malnutrition or nonorganic failure to thrive. The bill also clarifies that economic disadvantage does not constitute general neglect and outlines exceptions for medical decisions made after consultation with a physician.
Key provisions
- Expands the definition of ‘severe neglect’ to include situations of inadequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care leading to serious harm or risk.
- Specifically includes severe malnutrition and medically diagnosed nonorganic failure to thrive as examples of severe neglect.
- Clarifies that willful actions causing serious illness, injury, or death constitute severe neglect.
- Defines ‘general neglect’ as negligent failure to provide adequate care without physical injury, excluding economic disadvantage.
- Provides exceptions for children receiving spiritual treatment or refusing specified medical treatment for religious reasons.
- States that informed medical decisions made by parents or guardians after consulting a physician do not constitute neglect.
Who is affected
- Parents and caregivers of children
- Social workers
Bill text
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