Should Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Child Abuse on Military Bases be Strengthened? (H.R. 3894)

What is H.R. 3894?

(Updated August 1, 2017)

This bill would put in place additional mandatory reporting requirements for people who become aware of known or suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect that occur at U.S. military bases. It would require that such reports be made directly to both the state child protective agency and to the employee’s chain of command or a designated DOD point of contact.

All members of the Armed Forces, civilian Dept. of Defense (DOD) employees, or contractors working at a military base who are required by federal or state law to report child abuse would be covered by this legislation’s additional reporting requirements.

The DOD would be directed to ensure that all individuals who would be required to make these reports receive training based on state guidelines to improve:

• Their ability to recognize evidence of child abuse and neglect;

• Their understanding of mandatory reporting requirements.

Mandatory reporters are required by law to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, and each state has enacted laws with these requirements. They are typically people who work in roles that involve substantial interaction with children — such as teachers or childcare workers, although law enforcement and medical professionals among other job types can be designated by state law.

Argument in favor

The Dept. of Defense has a responsibility to ensure that relevant employees and contractors are aware of their responsibility as mandatory reporters to report known or suspected child abuse to state authorities and within the DOD.

Argument opposed

Dept. of Defense personnel who are mandatory reporters don’t need training on recognizing the signs of child abuse. Current safeguards against child abuse and reporting requirements at the DOD are sufficient.

Impact

DOD personnel or contractors considered who are considered to be mandatory reporters and report or receive information about known or suspected child abuse, state child protective authorities, and the DOD.

Cost of H.R. 3894

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introduced this legislation, known as Talia’s Law, to require mandatory reporters to directly report known or suspected child abuse to state child protective services and proper DOD personnel:

“Talia’s tragic story is just one of over 29,000 cases of child abuse and neglect in military homes over the last decade. This is a problem that demands better protections for our children in military families who are being abused, and better support for military families facing the stresses of war, multiple deployments, and economic hardship. I’ve introduced Talia's Law today to require military officials to immediately report suspected cases of abuse to State Child Protective Services. We owe it to our service members, their families, and thousands of children like Talia to disrupt the status quo and stop another decade of preventable child abuse.”

This legislation came to be known as Talia’s Law because of Talia Williams, a five year old who was beaten to death by her father after multiple federal employees — including military police and workers at her childcare facility — failed to report suspicions of her abuse.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Press Release
• Hawaii News Now
• Huffington Post