Child Abuse and Child Further Defined Under New Law
Senate Bill 436 is an amendment to the currently existing Welfare and Institutions Code in California that pertains to child abuse. Section 18951 of this code has been amended to include the definition of a “child” to be persons under the age of 18 years old, and also defines “child abuse” as situations in which a child is subjected to serious physical injury by any other means besides accidental, sexual abuse, harmful and purposeful neglect or malnutrition, denial of necessary physical health, purposeful mental health injury, violations of a child’s rights or physical, moral, or mental welfare, and any action that jeopardizes a child’s future health, capacity for normal mental development, or capability for independence. Section 18958 has also been amended to allow the Office of Child Abuse Prevention to apply for federal funding. Finally, Section 18961.7 has been amended to allow investigating agencies to share confidential information to aid in investigating suspected cases of child abuse. This new law was proposed by Senator Melissa Hurtado, the Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, and was approved and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 2nd, 2019. The law passed through both the state Assembly and Senate houses with no opposition. SB 436 does not provide for any penalties or other forms of relief but was intended to expand on definitions associated with child abuse included in the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Cited Sources:
“Senate Bill No. 436.” SB-436 Office of Child Abuse Prevention., California Legislative Information, 2 Oct. 2019, 9:00 PM, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB436.
