§ 12-18-204 - Unlawful restriction of child abuse reporting. - Arkansas Statutes

12-18-204. Unlawful restriction of child abuse reporting.

(a) (1) A person employed at a school, Head Start program, or day care facility commits the offense of unlawful restriction of child abuse reporting if he or she:

(A) Prohibits a mandated reporter under this chapter from making a report of child maltreatment or suspected child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline;

(B) Requires that a mandated reporter under this chapter receive permission from the person before the mandated reporter makes a report of child maltreatment or suspected child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline; or

(C) Knowingly retaliates against a mandated reporter under this chapter for reporting child maltreatment or suspected child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any person or institution from requiring a mandatory reporter employed or serving as a volunteer for a person or institution to inform a representative of that person or institution that the reporter has made a report to the Child Abuse Hotline.

(b) Unlawful restriction of child abuse reporting is a Class A misdemeanor.