SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1877        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 63

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to mandated reporters..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 51A of Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 176 of the acts 2008, is hereby  amended by inserting at the end of section (a) the following:

; provided however, where a mandated reporter who, in his professional capacity, has reasonable cause to believe that a child is suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon him which causes harm or substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare, including sexual abuse shall immediately communicate such condition to the state or local police.