HB 4350

Abstract

Creates the Child Abuse Notice Act. Requires certain businesses and establishments, including, but not limited to, day care centers, elementary and secondary schools, bus stations, and general acute care hospital emergency rooms, to post in a conspicuous place a notice developed by the Department of Children and Family Services that is aimed toward children under 18 and provides information on what constitutes physical and sexual abuse and how to report such abuse. Requires the notice to be at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in size, written in a 16-point font, unless the notice is provided by electronic means. Requires the Department, in consultation with an accredited Children's Advocacy Center, to develop a model notice no later than 6 months after the effective date of the Act. Requires the Department to make the model notice available for download on the Department's Internet website and provide the notice upon request to eligible business, schools, and other establishments. Provides that the notice shall be printed in English, Spanish, and in one other language that is the most widely spoken language in the county where the establishment is located and for which translation is mandated by the federal Voting Rights Act, as applicable. Imposes certain penalties on those businesses and other establishments that are subject to the Act that fail to comply with the Act's requirements. Exempts school districts and personnel from the penalty provision. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Removes day care centers and public and private schools that contain students under the age of 18 from the list of businesses and establishments that must post a child abuse notice in their public restrooms. Adds hotels, motels, and tattoo and body piercing establishments to the list. Removes a provision that requires the administrator of a public or private elementary school or public or private secondary school to post a printout of the downloadable notice provided by the Department of Children and Family Services in a conspicuous and accessible place chosen by the administrator in the administrative office or another location in view of school employees. Removes a provision that exempts school districts and personnel from the Act's penalties provisions. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. In a provision listing the types of businesses and other establishments that must post the child abuse notice as required under the Act, requires compliance from entertainment facilities or sporting facilities that are indoor structures with a legal occupancy of at least 5,000 persons (rather than entertainment facilities or sporting facilities providing services or opportunities to those under the age of 18). Removes a provision that requires the Department of Children and Family Services to, upon request, furnish copies of the model notice without charge to businesses, establishments, or schools. Removes an incorrect cross-reference from the provisions of the engrossed bill.