Gov. Jerry Brown signed three new child abuse laws into legislation last week, requiring that Cal State University staff and coaches report any incidences of physical or suspected child abuse.
Assembly Bill 1434 requires that postsecondary university staff, who are in contact with children, to report suspected or actual abuse to a child protection agency.
The text of Senate Bill 1264 includes university athletic coaches, assistant coaches and any graduate assistants involved in coaching as “university staff.”
Previously, the list of “mandated reporters,” people who are required to report abuse, was defined by the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. Both AB 1434 and SB 1264 further expand the definition of “mandated reporters.”
AB 1434 encourages employers to train their employees on detecting child abuse, though it is not required. Employees must also sign a statement acknowledging they are mandated reporters, according to the bill’s text.
Assembly Bill 1435, the last of the three bills signed by Brown, requires that university coaches, who work with children from kindergarten to grade 12, be classified as mandated reporters.
CSU Spokesman Erik Fallis said the CSU supports SB 1264 but has no official position on AB 1434 and 1435.
Some students, like sophomore statistics major Ranil Weerackoon, think these new laws will help prevent abuse.
“I thoroughly support this,” Weerackoon said. “Any person who has any knowledge of such a heinous crime should report so immediately … to prevent further instances of child abuse.”
Others, like sophomore microbiology major Brittany Daws, said they believe Brown’s laws will help all children.
“I feel like we have a moral obligation to protect kids from abuse,” Daws said. “These laws will certainly protect [against] child abuse.”