CHAPTER 577

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 68 a chapter
numbered 12.1 containing sections numbered 68-807.1 through 68-
807.4 relating to the report and investigation of certain physical
abuse or neglect occurring to persons under the age of sixteen. H 84]

Approved April 5, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding in Title 63 a chapter
ates 12.1 containing sections numbered 63-807.1 through 63-307.4,
as follows:

§ 63-307.1. Any person licensed to practice medicine or any of the
healing arts, any hospital resident or intern, any registered nurse, visit-
ing nurse, public school nurse, receiving in his or her professional or
official capacity, information that a child under the age of sixteen years
has suffered serious bodily injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her, or
who has suffered harm by reason of neglect or sexual abuse, and having
reason to believe that such are, or may be, the result of abuse or neglect,
shall report the matter immediately to the juvenile and domestic relations
court of the county or city in which the child resides, or in which the
injury is believed to have occurred or to the sheriff or chief of police of
such county or city, provided that if the information is received by a
staff member, resident, intern, or nurse in the course of professional
services in a hospital or similar institution, such person shall immediately
notify the manager, director, or other person in charge of the institution
or department, who shall make such report forthwith; provided,
however, that a child who is being furnished Christian Science
treatment by a duly accredited Christian Science Practitioner shall
not be considered, for that reason alone, a physically neglected
child for the purposes of this section. If the report is not made
“a writing in the first instance, it shall be reduced to writing by
the maker thereof as soon as possible after it is initially made and
shall contain the names and addresses of the child, his or her parents
or other persons responsible for his or her care, if known, the child’s
age, the nature and extent of the child’s injuries or condition (including
any evidence of previous injuries), and any other information the maker
of the report believes to be helpful in establishing the cause of the in-
juries, abuse or neglect and the identity of the person or persons re-
sponsible therefor. Such report or a duplicate thereof shall be mailed
to the Bureau of Vital Statistics by the juvenile and domestic relations
court, which Bureau shall keep a record of each such child until he or she
has attained the age of 16 years. Such records of the Bureau shall be
made available for inspection by any State or local governmental agency
upon request therefor. ;

§ 63-307.2. After the report is received by the sheriff or chief of
police, he shall cause an investigation to be made to determine the nature
and extent of such injuries or abuse, and the person or persons responsible
therefor, and shall take such action as he determines necessary for the
immediate care and protection of the child. In addition, he shall file a
report of his findings and action to the appropriate juvenile and domestic
relations court.

§ 63-307.3. Any person participating in the making of a report
pursuant to this act or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting
therefrom shall be immune from any civil liability in connection there-
with, unless it is proved that such person acted in bad faith or with
malicious intent.

§ 63-307.4. In any legal proceeding resulting from the filing of any
report filed pursuant to this act, the physician-patient and husband-wife
privilege shall not apply to exclude the admission of such report into
evidence.