HB 1467-S - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/08/05)

Provides that, when any person who is an employee or regular-service volunteer of a nonprofit entity as defined in RCW 84.36.800 has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect, and the alleged perpetrator is an employee, contractor, or volunteer of the same nonprofit entity, he or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 26.44.040.

Declares that the reporting requirement of this act does not apply to a member of the clergy with regard to information obtained by the member of the clergy in his or her professional character as a religious or spiritual advisor when the information is obtained solely as a result of a confession made pursuant to the clergy-penitent privilege as provided in RCW 5.60.060(3), and the member of the clergy is authorized to hear such confession, and has a duty under the discipline, tenets, doctrine, or custom of his or her church, religious denomination, religious body, spiritual community, or sect to keep the confession secret.