Arkansas § 12-18-402 - Mandated reporters.

§ 12-18-402. Mandated reporters.

An individual listed as a mandated reporter under subsection (b) of this section shall immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline if he or she: Has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has: Been subjected to child maltreatment; Died as a result of child maltreatment; or Died suddenly and unexpectedly; or Observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in child maltreatment. The following individuals are mandated reporters under this chapter: A child care worker or foster care worker; A coroner; A day care center worker; A dentist; A dental hygienist; A domestic abuse advocate; A domestic violence shelter employee; A domestic violence shelter volunteer; An employee of the Department of Human Services; An employee working under contract for, or a contractor of, the Department of Human Services when acting within the scope of his or her contract or employment; A foster parent; A judge; A law enforcement official; A licensed nurse; Medical personnel who may be engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons; A mental health professional or paraprofessional; An osteopath; A peace officer; A physician; A prosecuting attorney; A resident intern; A public or private school counselor; A school official, including without limitation institutions of higher education; A social worker; A surgeon; A teacher; A court-appointed special advocate program staff member or volunteer; A juvenile intake or probation officer; A clergy member, which includes a minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed to be so by the person consulting him or her, except to the extent the clergy member: Has acquired knowledge of suspected child maltreatment through communications required to be kept confidential pursuant to the religious discipline of the relevant denomination or faith; or Received the knowledge of the suspected child maltreatment from the alleged offender in the context of a statement of admission; An employee of a child advocacy center or a child safety center; An attorney ad litem in the course of his or her duties as an attorney ad litem; A sexual abuse advocate or sexual abuse volunteer who works with a victim of sexual abuse as an employee of a community-based victim service or mental health agency such as Safe Places, United Family Services, Inc., or Centers for Youth and Families. A sexual abuse advocate or sexual abuse volunteer includes a paid or volunteer sexual abuse advocate who is based with a local law enforcement agency; A rape crisis advocate or rape crisis volunteer; A child abuse advocate or child abuse volunteer who works with a child victim of abuse or maltreatment as an employee of a community-based victim service or a mental health agency such as Safe Places, United Family Services, Inc., or Centers for Youth and Families. A child abuse advocate or child abuse volunteer includes a paid or volunteer sexual abuse advocate who is based with a local law enforcement agency; A victim/witness coordinator; A victim assistance professional or victim assistance volunteer; An employee of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police; An employee of a reproductive healthcare facility; A volunteer at a reproductive healthcare facility; An individual not otherwise identified in this subsection who is engaged in performing his or her employment duties with a nonprofit charitable organization other than a nonprofit hospital; and A Child Welfare Ombudsman. A privilege or contract shall not prevent a person from reporting child maltreatment when he or she is a mandated reporter and required to report under this section. An employer or supervisor of an employee identified as a mandated reporter shall not prohibit an employee or a volunteer from directly reporting child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline. An employer or supervisor of an employee identified as a mandated reporter shall not require an employee or a volunteer to obtain permission or notify any person, including an employee or a supervisor, before reporting child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline. A mandated reporter who in good faith notifies the Child Abuse Hotline in accordance with subsection (a) of this section is immune from civil and criminal liability.