Audiologists.
Family court mediators.
Probation and parole officers.
The bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to approve
training courses for mandated reporters and directs DCF to promulgate rules setting
forth the criteria required for such training courses. The bill authorizes DCF to approve
training courses provided by individuals, organizations, or institutions of higher
education. In addition, the bill requires the rules promulgated by DCF to specify the
required content of an approved training course and the qualifications required for the
providers of such training.
With the exception of the rule-making requirements, the training requirements
take effect on the first day of 3rd year beginning after publication.
Definitions of "Physical Injury" and "Neglect"
In the Children's Code, "abuse" is defined to mean one of several specified
activities, including "physical injury inflicted on a child by other than accidental means."
The term "physical injury" is further defined to mean lacerations, fractured bones, burns,

internal injuries, severe or frequent bruising, or great bodily harm, as defined in the
Criminal Code.
For purposes of mandated reporting of child abuse, the bill removes the words
"severe or frequent" from the phrase "severe or frequent bruising" within the definition
of "physical injury." For purposes of investigating a report of child abuse, however, the
bill does not remove those words from that phrase.
In the Children's Code, "neglect" is defined to mean the failure, refusal, or inability
on the part of a caregiver, for reasons other than poverty, to provide necessary care, food,
clothing, medical or dental care, or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health
of a child.
For purposes of mandated reporting of child neglect, the bill removes the phrase
"for reasons other than poverty" from the definition of "neglect." For purposes of
investigating a report of child neglect, however, the bill does not remove that phrase from
that definition.
Tribal Notification Requirements
Under current law, a county that has a federally recognized Indian reservation or
a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) service area for the Ho-Chunk Nation wholly or
partially within its boundaries must notify a tribal agent when it receives a report of
suspected child abuse or neglect and it knows or has reason to know the child is an Indian
child or an Indian unborn child. If the county knows which Indian tribe the child is
affiliated with or with which Indian tribe the unborn child may, when born, be eligible
for affiliation, it must notify the tribal agent of that tribe. If the county does not know
the tribal affiliation of the child or unborn child, it must notify the tribal agent serving
the reservation or Ho-Chunk service area where the child or expectant mother resides.
If the county does not know the child or unborn child's tribal affiliation and the child or
the unborn child's expectant mother does not live on a reservation or in a Ho-Chunk
service area, the county must notify any tribal agent serving a reservation or Ho-Chunk
service area in the county. A county that does not have a federally recognized Indian
reservation or a BIA service area for the Ho-Chunk Nation within its boundaries is not
required, under current law, to notify a tribe that it received a report of suspected child
abuse or neglect pertaining to a child it knows or has reason to know is an Indian child
or Indian unborn child.
The bill makes the following changes to the requirement that a county department
notify a tribal agent when it receives a report of suspected child abuse or neglect
pertaining to a child or unborn child whom the county department knows or has reason
to know is an Indian child or is an Indian unborn child:
Applies the notification requirement to child protective agencies in all counties of
the state.
Eliminates the requirement that an agency notify a tribal agent when the agency
does not know the tribe with which the child is affiliated or the tribe with which the
unborn child may, when born, be eligible for affiliation.
Eliminates restrictions on the type of information that an agency may provide to
a tribal agent, and specifies that additional information may be provided as allowed by
law.
Specifies that notice to a tribe of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect does
not constitute notice for any other purpose.
SB18,1 1Section 1. 48.236 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,7,192 48.236 (4) (a) Inspect any reports and records relating to the child who is the
3subject of the proceeding, the child's family, and any other person residing in the
4same home as the child that are relevant to the subject matter of the proceeding,

1including records discoverable under s. 48.293, examination reports under s. 48.295
2(2), law enforcement reports and records under ss. 48.396 (1) and 938.396 (1) (a),
3court records under ss. 48.396 (2) (a) and 938.396 (2), social welfare agency records
4under ss. 48.78 (2) (a) and 938.78 (2) (a), abuse and neglect reports and records under
5s. 48.981 (7) (a) 11r. (7d) (Lr), and pupil records under s. 118.125 (2) (L). The order
6shall also require the custodian of any report or record specified in this paragraph
7to permit the court-appointed special advocate to inspect the report or record on
8presentation by the court-appointed special advocate of a copy of the order. A
9court-appointed special advocate that obtains access to a report or record described
10in this paragraph shall keep the information contained in the report or record
11confidential and may disclose that information only to the court. If a
12court-appointed special advocate discloses any information to the court under this
13paragraph, the court-appointed special advocate shall also disclose that information
14to all parties to the proceeding. If a court-appointed special advocate discloses
15information in violation of the confidentiality requirement specified in this
16paragraph, the court-appointed special advocate is liable to any person damaged as
17a result of that disclosure for such damages as may be proved and, notwithstanding
18s. 814.04 (1), for such costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred
19by the person damaged.
SB18,2 20Section 2. 48.24 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,8,1521 48.24 (5) The intake worker shall request that a petition be filed, enter into an
22informal disposition, or close the case within 60 days after receipt of referral
23information. If the referral information is a report received by a county department
24or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed
25child welfare agency under contract with the department under s. 48.981 (3) (a) 1.,

12., or 2d.,
,(bg), or (bp) that 60-day period shall begin on the day on which the report
2is received by the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency.
3If the case is closed or an informal disposition is entered into, the district attorney,
4corporation counsel, or other official under s. 48.09 shall receive written notice of that
5action. If a law enforcement officer has made a recommendation concerning the
6child, or the unborn child and the expectant mother of the unborn child, the intake
7worker shall forward this recommendation to the district attorney, corporation
8counsel, or other official under s. 48.09. If a petition is filed, the petition may include
9information received more than 60 days before filing the petition to establish a
10condition or pattern which, together with information received within the 60-day
11period, provides a basis for conferring jurisdiction on the court. The court shall grant
12appropriate relief as provided in s. 48.315 (3) with respect to any petition that is not
13referred or filed within the time periods specified in this subsection. Failure to object
14to the fact that a petition is not requested within the time period specified in this
15subsection waives any challenge to the court's competency to act on the petition.
SB18,3 16Section 3. 48.47 (9) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,8,2117 48.47 (9) Training for reporters of child abuse and neglect. Approve
18training courses provided by individuals, organizations, or institutions of higher
19education for persons for whom the completion of a training course, as described in
20s. 48.981 (2s), is required as a condition of licensure, certification, employment,
21appointment, or assignment.
Note: Adds the approval of training courses for mandated reporters to DCF's
duties.
SB18,4 22Section 4. 48.67 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,9,4
148.67 (2m) (a) That all child care center licensees and all employees of a child
2care center who provide care and supervision for children complete a training course
3approved under s. 48.47 (9) before the date on which an initial license is issued or the
4employment commences, whichever is applicable.
SB18,9,75 (b)   That all staff members of a group home who provide care for children in the
6group home complete a training course approved under s. 48.47 (9) prior to
7employment in the group home.
SB18,9,108 (c) That all staff members of a residential care center for children and youth
9who provide care and supervision for children complete a training course approved
10under s. 48.47 (9) prior to employment in the residential care center.
Note: Requires DCF rules to require licensees and employees of child care centers
who provide care and supervision for children; employees of group homes who provide
care for children; and employees of residential care centers for children and youth who
provide care and supervision for children to complete an approved mandated reporter
training course prior to the date on which the license is issued or the employment begins.
SB18,5 11Section 5. 48.685 (4m) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,9,1312 48.685 (4m) (a) 4. That a determination has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c)
134.
(3g) (d) that the person has abused or neglected a child.
SB18,6 14Section 6. 48.685 (4m) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,9,1615 48.685 (4m) (b) 4. That a determination has been made under s. 48.981 (3) (c)
164.
(3g) (d) that the person has abused or neglected a child.
SB18,7 17Section 7. 48.981 (1) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,9,2218 48.981 (1) (ag) "Agency" means a county department, the department in a
19county having a population of 500,000 or more, or a licensed child welfare agency
20under contract with a county department or the department in a county having a
21population of 500,000 or more to perform investigations under this section. For
22purposes of performing the duties specified in subs. (3g) (a), (b) 2., (bm) 2., (f), (fm),

1and (h) 1., 2., and 3. and for purposes of confidentiality of reports and records under
2sub. (7) to (7m), "agency" also includes a licensed child welfare agency under contract
3with a county department to perform investigations under this section.
Note: Amends the definition of "agency" to include child welfare agencies under
contract with county departments only for purposes of specified provisions to enable the
use of the definition throughout s. 48.981, stats.
SB18,8 4Section 8. 48.981 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (hm) 1. and
5amended to read:
SB18,10,216 48.981 (7d) (hm) 1. "Community In this paragraph, "community placement"
7means probation; extended supervision; parole; aftercare; conditional transfer into
8the community under s. 51.35 (1); conditional transfer or discharge under s. 51.37
9(9); placement in a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth or a Type 2
10juvenile correctional facility authorized under s. 938.539 (5); conditional release
11under s. 971.17; supervised release under s. 980.06 or 980.08; participation in the
12community residential confinement program under s. 301.046, the intensive
13sanctions program under s. 301.048, the corrective sanctions program under s.
14938.533, the intensive supervision program under s. 938.534, or the serious juvenile
15offender program under s. 938.538; or any other placement of an adult or juvenile
16offender in the community under the custody or supervision of the department of
17corrections, the department of health services, a county department under s. 46.215,
1846.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 or any other person under contract with the
19department of corrections, the department of health services or a county department
20under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 to exercise custody or supervision over
21the offender.
Note: Renumbers the definition for "community placement" to place it in the one
paragraph where it appears.
SB18,9 22Section 9. 48.981 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,11,5
148.981 (1) (bm) "Contractor" means, with respect to a school or an institution
2of higher education, a person, or that person's agent, who provides services to the
3school or institution of higher education under an express or implied contract or
4subcontract, including a person who has staff privileges at the school or institution
5of higher education.
SB18,10 6Section 10. 48.981 (1) (ct) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3f) (a) 1.
Note: Renumbers the definition for "Indian unborn child" to place it in the one
subsection where it appears.
SB18,11 7Section 11. 48.981 (1) (cv) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (2) (bm) 1d.
8b.
Note: Renumbers the definition of "member of a religious order" to place it in the
one paragraph where it appears.
SB18,12 9Section 12. 48.981 (1) (cx) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (2) (bm) 1d.
10c.
Note: Renumbers the definition for "member of the clergy" to place it in the one
paragraph where it appears.
SB18,13 11Section 13. 48.981 (1) (i) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3f) (a) 2.
Note: Renumbers the definition of "tribal agent" to place it in the one subsection
where it appears.
SB18,14 12Section 14. 48.981 (2) (a) (intro.) and 1. to 14. of the statutes are renumbered
1348.981 (2) (ar) (intro.) and 1. to 14., and 48.981 (2) (ar) (intro.) and 14., as
14renumbered, are amended to read:
SB18,12,215 48.981 (2) (ar) Mandatory reporters; professionals. (intro.) Any Except as
16provided in subs. (2m) and (2r), any
of the following persons who has reasonable
17cause to suspect that a child seen by the person in the course of professional duties
18has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child seen by the
19person in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect

1and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided under subs.
2(2m) and (2r),
report as provided in sub. (3):
SB18,12,53 14. A school teacher employee, contractor, or volunteer, other than a school
4board member, child, or student that has not yet graduated from high school, who
5works directly with children at least 40 hours in a school year
.
Note: Amends the reporting requirements applicable to school employees to
require school employees, volunteers, and contractors who work directly with children at
least 40 hours in a school year to report suspected child abuse or neglect. School board
members, children, and students who have not yet graduated from high school are
exempted from these reporting requirements.
SB18,15 6Section 15. 48.981 (2) (a) 15., 16. and 16m. of the statutes are repealed.
Note: Deletes specific references to school teachers, school administrators, and
school counselors and school employees not otherwise specified because they are
mandated reporters under s. 48.981 (2) (ar) 14., as renumbered and amended.
SB18,16 7Section 16. 48.981 (2) (a) 17. to 29. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (2)
8(ar) 17. to 29.
SB18,17 9Section 17. 48.981 (2) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,12,1010 48.981 (2) (ag) Definitions. In this subsection:
SB18,12,1311 1. "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (1), except that "physical injury,"
12as used in that definition, includes lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal
13injuries, bruising, or great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14).
SB18,12,1614 2. "Neglect" means failure, refusal, or inability on the part of a caregiver to
15provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care, or shelter so as to
16seriously endanger the physical health of the child.
Note: For purposes of mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect, amends the
definition of "physical injury" to remove the words "severe and frequent" from the phrase
"severe and frequent bruising", and creates a definition of "neglect" that does not require
that a caregiver's failure, refusal, or inability to provide necessary care, food, clothing,
medical or dental care, or shelter be caused by reasons other than poverty.
SB18,18 17Section 18. 48.981 (2) (ar) 16r., 30. and 31. of the statutes are created to read:
SB18,13,4
148.981 (2) (ar) 16r. An employee, contractor, or volunteer of an institution of
2higher education, other than a child, who has regular, ongoing contact with children,
3other than matriculated students of the institution, in a professional or primary
4setting.
SB18,13,55 30. A probation agent.
SB18,13,66 31. A parole agent.
Note: Amends the list of mandated reporters to include probation agents, parole
agents, and any employee, contractor, or volunteer of an institution of higher education,
other than a child, who has regular, ongoing contact with children, other than
matriculated students of the institution, in a professional or primary setting.
SB18,19 7Section 19. 48.981 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,13,148 48.981 (2) (b) Mandatory reporters; court-appointed special advocates. A
9Except as provided in subs. (2m) and (2r), a court-appointed special advocate who
10has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of activities under s.
1148.236 (3) has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that a child seen
12in the course of those activities has been threatened with abuse and neglect and that
13abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall, except as provided in subs. (2m) and (2r),
14report as provided in sub. (3).
SB18,20 15Section 20. 48.981 (2) (bm) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,13,1616 48.981 (2) (bm) Mandatory reporters; members of the clergy.
SB18,21 17Section 21. 48.981 (2) (bm) 1. (intro.), a. and b. of the statutes are consolidated,
18renumbered 48.981 (2) (bm) 1g. and amended to read:
SB18,14,219 48.981 (2) (bm) 1g. Except as provided in subd. 3. and subs. (2m) and (2r), a
20member of the clergy shall report as provided in sub. (3) if the member of the clergy
21has reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen by the member of the clergy in the
22course of his or her professional duties: a. Has has been abused, as defined in s. 48.02

1(1) (b) to (f); or b. Has
or has been threatened with abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1)
2(b) to (f),
and abuse of the child will likely occur.
SB18,22 3Section 22. 48.981 (2) (bm) 1d. of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,14,44 48.981 (2) (bm) 1d. In this paragraph:
SB18,14,55 a. "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f).
Note: Creates a definition for "abuse" in s. 48.981 (2) (bm), stats., so that the
definition need not be repeated each time the term appears within the paragraph.
SB18,23 6Section 23. 48.981 (2) (bm) 2. (intro.), a. and b. of the statutes are consolidated,
7renumbered 48.981 (2) (bm) 2. and amended to read:
SB18,14,148 48.981 (2) (bm) 2. Except as provided in subd. 3. and subs. (2m) and (2r), a
9member of the clergy shall report as provided in sub. (3) if the member of the clergy
10has reasonable cause, based on observations made or information that he or she
11receives, to suspect that a member of the clergy has done any of the following: a.
12Abused
abused a child, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f). b. Threatened or threatened
13a child with abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f), and abuse of the child will likely
14occur.
SB18,24 15Section 24. 48.981 (2) (bm) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,14,2216 48.981 (2) (bm) 3. A member of the clergy is not required to report child abuse
17information under subd. 1. 1g. or 2. that he or she receives solely through confidential
18communications made to him or her privately or in a confessional setting if he or she
19is authorized to hear or is accustomed to hearing such communications and, under
20the disciplines, tenets, or traditions of his or her religion, has a duty or is expected
21to keep those communications secret. Those disciplines, tenets, or traditions need
22not be in writing.
SB18,25 23Section 25. 48.981 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,15,5
148.981 (2) (c) Discretionary reporters; child abuse and neglect. Any person not
2otherwise specified in par. (a) (ar), (b), or (bm), including an attorney, who has reason
3to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or who has reason to believe that
4a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the
5child will occur may report as provided in sub. (3).
Note: Removes the clause "including an attorney" from the phrase "Any person not
otherwise specified", including an attorney" to reduce redundancy.
SB18,26 6Section 26. 48.981 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB18,15,107 48.981 (2) (d) Discretionary reporters; unborn child abuse. Any person,
8including an attorney,
who has reason to suspect that an unborn child has been
9abused or who has reason to believe that an unborn child is at substantial risk of
10abuse may report as provided in sub. (3).
Note: Removes the clause "including an attorney" from the phrase "Any person,
including an attorney" to reduce redundancy.
SB18,27 11Section 27. 48.981 (2m) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB18,15,1212 48.981 (2m) (a) (title) Purpose.
SB18,28 13Section 28. 48.981 (2m) (b) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
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