MISSOURI
MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS
MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS
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Professionals required to report
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 210.115; 352.400; 573.215
Professionals required to report include the following:
• Physicians, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, residents, interns, nurses, hospital and clinic personnel, or other health practitioners
• Daycare center workers or other child care workers, teachers, principals, or other school officials
• Psychologists, mental health professionals, or social workers
• Ministers, including clergypersons, priests, rabbis, Christian Science practitioners, or other persons serving in a similar
capacity for any religious organization
• Juvenile officers, probation or parole officers, peace officers, law enforcement officials, or jail or detention center personnel
• Volunteers or personnel of community service programs that offer support services for families in crisis to assist in the
delegation of any powers regarding the care and custody of a child by a properly executed power of attorney
• Other persons with responsibility for the care of children
• Film and photographic print processors; computer providers, installers, or repair persons; or internet service providers
Other persons required to report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 210.115
Any other person who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect may report.
Institutional responsibility to report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 210.115
If two or more members of a medical institution who are required to report jointly have knowledge of a known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, a single report may be made by a designated member of that medical team. Any member who has knowledge that the member designated to report has failed to do so shall thereafter immediately make the report. Nothing in this section, however, is meant to preclude any person from reporting abuse or neglect.
The reporting requirements under this section are individual, and no supervisor or administrator may impede or inhibit any reporting under this section. No person making a report shall be subject to any sanction, including any adverse employment action, for making such report. Every employer shall ensure that any employee required to report has immediate and unrestricted access to the communications technology necessary to make an immediate report and is temporarily relieved of other work duties for such time as is required to make any report required by this section.
WHAT ARE THEY REQUIRED TO REPORT
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 210.115; 573.215
A report is required under the following circumstances:
• A reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect.
• A reporter observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.
• A film and photographic print processor has knowledge of or observes any film, photograph, videotape, negative, slide, or
computer-generated image or picture depicting a child younger than age 18 engaged in an act of sexual conduct.
PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO REPORT
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 210.165(1); 573.215
Any person violating any provision of the reporting laws is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
A person commits the offense of failure to report child pornography if he or she, being a film and photographic print processor,
computer provider, installer or repair person, or any internet service provider who has knowledge of or observes, within the scope of the person’s professional capacity or employment, any film, photograph, videotape, negative, slide, or computer-generated image or picture depicting a child under age 18 engaged in an act of sexual conduct fails to report such instance to any law enforcement agency immediately or as soon as practically possible.
The offense of failure to report child pornography is a class B misdemeanor.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a provider of electronic communication services or remote computing services to monitor any user, subscriber, or customer of the provider or the content of any communication of any user, subscriber, or customer of the provider.
PENALTIES FOR FALSE REPORTING
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.165(2)-(3)
Any person who intentionally files a false report of child abuse or neglect shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Every person who has been previously convicted of making a false report to the Children’s Division or its predecessor agency, the Division of Family Services, and who is Subsequently convicted of making a false report is guilty of a class E felony and shall be punished as provided by law.
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 210.140
Only the attorney-client or clergy-penitent privilege may be grounds for failure to report.
REPORTER’S IDENTITY
Inclusion of Reporter’s Name in Report
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 210.130
The report must include the name, address, occupation, and contact information for the person making the report.
Disclosure of Reporter Identity
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 210.150
The names or other identifying information of reporters shall not be furnished to any child, Parent, guardian, or alleged perpetrator named in the report.