§ 47.57. Noncompliance.
(a) Disciplinary action. A licensed bachelor social worker, licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker who willfully fails to comply with the reporting requirements in § § 47.52—47.54 (relating to suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements; photographs of child subject to report; and suspected death as a result of child abuse—mandated reporting requirement) will be subject to disciplinary action under section 11 of the act (63 P.S. § 1911).
(b) Criminal penalties. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6319 (relating to penalties), a licensed bachelor social worker, licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker who is required to report a case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral to the appropriate authorities and who willfully fails to do so commits a criminal offense, as follows:
(1) An offense not otherwise specified in paragraphs (2), (3) or (4) is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(2) An offense is a felony of the third degree if all of the following apply:
(i) The mandated reporter willfully fails to report.
(ii) The child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher.
(iii) The mandated reporter has direct knowledge of the nature of the abuse.
(3) If the willful failure to report continues while the mandated reporter knows or has reasonable cause to suspect a child is being subjected to child abuse by the same individual, or while the mandated reporter knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the same individual continues to have direct contact with children through the individual’s employment, program, activity or service, the mandated reporter commits a felony of the third degree, except that if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the mandated reporter commits a felony of the second degree.
(4) A mandated reporter who, at the time of sentencing for an offense under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6319, has been convicted of a prior offense under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6319, commits a felony of the third degree, except that if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the penalty for the second or subsequent offense is a felony of the second degree.
Authority The provisions of this § 47.57 issued under the Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2); and section 6 of the Social Workers’ Practice Act (63 P.S. § 1906); amended under section 6(2) of the Social Workers, Marriage Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P.S. § 1906(2)); and 23 Pa.C.S. § § 6301—6388.
Source The provisions of this § 47.57 adopted November 8, 1996, effective November 9, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 5435; amended March 18, 2022, effective March 19, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1608. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (402393).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 47.51 (relating to definitions relating to child abuse reporting requirements); and 49 Pa. Code § 47.79 (relating to mandatory reporting).
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