COLORADO
MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS
MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS
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Professionals required to report
“Professionals Required to Report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304
Persons required to report include the following:
• Physicians, surgeons, physicians in training, child health associates, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, osteopaths,
optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, nurses, hospital personnel, dental hygienists, physical therapists, pharmacists, or registered dieticians
• Public or private school officials or employees
• Social workers, Christian Science practitioners, mental health professionals, psychologists, professional counselors, and
marriage and family therapists
• Veterinarians, peace officers, firefighters, or victim’s advocates
• Commercial film and photographic print processors
• Counselors, marriage and family therapists, or psychotherapists
• Clergy members, including priests; rabbis; duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers of a church; members of
religious orders; or recognized leaders of any religious bodies
• Workers in the State Department of Human Services
• Juvenile parole and probation officers
• Child and family investigators
• Officers and agents of the State Bureau of Animal Protection and animal control officers
• The child protection ombudsman
• Educators providing services through a Federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, as
provided for in 42 U.S.C. § 1786
• Directors, coaches, assistant coaches, or athletic program personnel employed by private sports organizations or programs
• Persons registered as psychologist candidates, marriage and family therapist candidates, or licensed professional counselor
candidates
• Emergency medical service providers
• Officials or employees of county departments of health, human services, or social services
• Registered naturopathic doctors”
Other persons required to report
“Reporting by Other Persons
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304
Any other person may report known or suspected child abuse or neglect.”
Institutional responsibility to report
“Institutional Responsibility to Report
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.”
WHAT ARE THEY REQUIRED TO REPORT
“A report is required when any of the following apply:
• A mandated reporter has reasonable cause to know or suspect child abuse or neglect.
• A reporter has observed a child being subjected to circumstances or conditions that would reasonably result in abuse or
neglect.
• Commercial film and photographic print processors have knowledge of or observe any film, photograph, videotape, negative, or slide depicting a child engaged in an act of sexual conduct.”
PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO REPORT
“Failure to Report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304(4)
Any mandatory reporter who willfully fails to report as required by § 19-3-304(1) commits a class 3 misdemeanor and shall be
punished as provided by law and shall be liable for damages proximately caused.”
PENALTIES FOR FALSE REPORTING
“False Reporting
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304(3.5), (4)
No person, including a mandatory reporter, shall knowingly make a false report of abuse or neglect to a county department or local law enforcement agency.
Any person who violates this provision commits a class 3 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided by law and shall be liable for damages proximately caused.”
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS
“The clergy-penitent privilege is permitted. The physician-patient, psychologist-client, and husband-wife privileges are not allowed as grounds for failing to report.”
REPORTER’S IDENTITY
“The report shall include the name, address, and occupation of the person making the report.
The identity of the reporter shall be protected.”