CHAPTER 287

An Act to amend and reenact § 68-807.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to reports by certain persons with reference to certain injuries in-
fiicted upon children below the age of sixteen years. CH 729]

Approved April 2, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. ' teat § 63-307.1 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
aS ToOHnows:

§ 63-307.1. Report generally.—Any person licensed to practice medi-
cine or any of the healing arts, any hospital resident or intern, any
registered nurse, visiting nurse, public school nurse, registered social
worker or associate social worker, 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 re-
ceived 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 in writing in
the first instance, it shall be reduced to writing by the maker thereof
as soon as possible after it 1s initially made and shall contain the names
and addresses of the child, his or her parents or other persons responsible
his or her care, if known, the child’s age, the nature and extent of
child’s injuries or condition (including any evidence of previous
ries), and any other information the maker of the report believes
2 helpful in establishing the cause of the injuries, abuse or neglect and
identity of the person or persons responsible therefor. Such report
, duplicate thereof shall be mailed to the Bureau of Vital Statistics
he juvenile and domestic relations court, which Bureau shall keep a
rd of each such child until he or she has attained the age of sixteen
s. Such records of the Bureau shall be made available for inspection
ny State or local governmental agency upon request therefor.