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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
duty to report; abuse; neglect
Purpose
Requires a person who has a duty to report and has direct knowledge that a minor is or has been the victim of abuse or neglect to immediately report the abuse or neglect to the Department of Child Safety (DCS), unless certain exceptions apply.
Background
Current statute assigns a range of individuals with a mandatory duty to report when they reasonably believe a minor has been the subject of non-accidental physical injury, abuse, child abuse, neglect, or the denial of necessary medical care, or when a newborn may be affected by drugs or alcohol. Those with this duty include medical and behavioral health professionals, law enforcement and child-welfare personnel, members of the clergy, parents and guardians, school personnel and related victim advocates, individuals responsible for a child's care or treatment, their supervisors and administrators and members of school governing bodies. These mandated reporters must immediately notify a peace officer, DCS or appropriate tribal authorities when such reasonable belief arises. The report must outline suspected abuse, neglect, serious physical injury, deprivation of necessary medical treatment or nourishment or prenatal substance exposure in newborns, including relevant identifying information and details about the nature and circumstances of the suspected harm (A.R.S. § 13-3620).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a person who has a duty to report and who has direct knowledge that a minor is or has been the victim of abuse or neglect to immediately report the abuse or neglect to DCS.
2. Prohibits a person who has a duty to report from delegating the report to another person.
3. Stipulates that these requirements do not apply to a person who is an employee or an agent of a health care institution, and that if such a person has a duty to report, they may delegate the making of the report to a designated agent if the delegation is reasonably required by law to allow the delegating person to continue patient care or to comply with applicable standards of care.
4. Stipulates that this exception is not intended to require more than one report from an employee or an agent of a health care institution for the same facts and circumstances that led to a reasonable belief of abuse or neglect.
5. Prohibits a law enforcement investigation into the alleged abusive conduct from being supervised, managed or directed by a school resource officer or school safety officer.
6. Makes conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Specifies that any abuse or neglect must be reported in the prescribed manner, regardless of who commits the abuse or neglect.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Makes technical changes.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Stipulates that these requirements do not apply to a person who is an employee or an agent of a health care institution, and that if such a person has a duty to report, they may delegate the making of the report to a designated agent if the delegation is reasonably required by law to allow the delegating person to continue patient care or to comply with applicable standards of care.
2. Stipulates that this exception is not intended to require more than one report from an employee or an agent of a health care institution for the same facts and circumstances that led to a reasonable belief of abuse or neglect.
3. Prohibits a law enforcement investigation into the alleged abusive conduct from being supervised, managed or directed by a school resource officer or school safety officer.
Senate Action House Action
JUDE 1/28/26 DPA 7-0-0 JUD 3/11/26 DP 7-0-1-1
3rd Read 2/24/26 27-0-3 3rd Read 6/2/26 5-50-5
3rd Read* 6/12/26 35-21-4
*on reconsideration
Prepared by Senate Research
June 11, 2026
ZD/MY/ci