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Bill > HB1414
VA HB1414
VA HB1414Children; certain injuries to be reported by physicians, etc., penalties for failure to report.
summary
Introduced
01/22/2026
01/22/2026
In Committee
03/09/2026
03/09/2026
Crossed Over
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Requirement that certain injuries to children be reported by physicians, nurses, teachers, etc.; penalties for failure to report. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person required to file a report, pursuant to relevant law, who fails to do so as soon as possible, but not longer than 24 hours after having reason to suspect a reportable offense of child abuse or neglect where such reportable offense is alleged to have occurred at a private or state-operated hospital, institution, or facility to which children have been committed or where children have been placed for care and treatment. The bill also provides that a second or subsequent violation is a Class 6 felony.Under current law, any such person who fails to file such report, regardless of where the reportable offense is alleged to have occurred, is (i) subject to a fine of not more than $500 for the first failure and not less than $1,000 for any subsequent failure or (ii) guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if the reportable offense is completed or attempted rape, sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, or object sexual penetration.The bill also clarifies that such reporting requirement is imposed upon any person in charge of the hospital, institution, or facility who has been informed by any person of a reason to suspect that a child is an abused and neglected child as it related to the reporting requirement for any professional staff person employed by a private or state-operated hospital, institution, or facility to which children have been committed or where children have been placed for care and treatment.
AI Summary
This bill strengthens reporting requirements for suspected child abuse and neglect by expanding the types of offenses that trigger mandatory reporting and increasing penalties for failure to report, particularly when the alleged abuse occurs in facilities where children are placed for care. Specifically, it clarifies that suspected violations of certain sexual offenses against children, such as rape and aggravated sexual battery, must be reported. The bill also introduces new penalties for those required to report: a failure to report within 24 hours of suspicion will result in a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent offense will be a Class 6 felony, which is a more serious crime. These stricter penalties apply when the suspected abuse or neglect is alleged to have happened at a private or state-operated hospital, institution, or facility where children have been committed or placed for care and treatment. This change aims to ensure timely reporting and intervention in cases of child maltreatment, especially within institutional settings.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Justice
Sponsors (20)
Delores McQuinn (D)*,
Bonita Anthony (D),
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D),
Kacey Carnegie (D),
Nadarius Clark (D),
Joshua Cole (D),
Nicole Cole (D),
Lindsey Dougherty (D),
Margaret Franklin (D),
J.R. Henson (D),
Karen Keys-Gamarra (D),
Destiny LeVere Bolling (D),
Michelle Lopes-Maldonado (D),
May Nivar (D),
Marcia Price (D),
Charlie Schmidt (D),
Irene Shin (D),
J.J. Singh (D),
Josh Thomas (D),
Virgil Thornton (D),
Last Action
Senate substitute agreed to by House (92-Y 6-N 0-A) (on 03/12/2026)
Official Document
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