Bill > HB1171

This bill amends the existing child abuse and neglect reporting law to create a specific exemption for attorneys employed by higher education institutions who gain information related to client representation. The legislation recognizes the importance of maintaining attorney-client confidentiality while still preserving the overall mandate to report child abuse and neglect. Specifically, the bill adds language that excludes attorneys from mandatory reporting requirements when the information they receive is part of legal representation. However, the bill explicitly notes that this exemption does not override professional conduct rules regarding disclosure in cases of imminent harm, such as preventing reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm. The legislature found that without this clarification, attorneys supervising law students in clinical programs might be inadvertently required to disclose confidential client information, which could compromise the quality of legal representation and potentially deter clients from seeking help. The exemption applies to both attorneys employed by higher education institutions and employees working under their supervision, but only when the information relates to client representation.