1. Any person who is described in subsection 4 and who, in his or her professional or occupational capacity, knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected shall:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, report the abuse or neglect of the child to an agency which provides child welfare services or to a law enforcement agency; and

(b) Make such a report as soon as reasonably practicable but not later than 24 hours after the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the child has been abused or neglected.

2. If a person who is required to make a report pursuant to subsection 1 knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the abuse or neglect of the child involves an act or omission of:

(a) A person directly responsible or serving as a volunteer for or an employee of a public or private home, institution or facility where the child is receiving child care outside of the home for a portion of the day, the person shall make the report to a law enforcement agency.

(b) An agency which provides child welfare services or a law enforcement agency, the person shall make the report to an agency other than the one alleged to have committed the act or omission, and the investigation of the abuse or neglect of the child must be made by an agency other than the one alleged to have committed the act or omission.

3. Any person who is described in paragraph (a) of subsection 4 who delivers or provides medical services to a newborn infant and who, in his or her professional or occupational capacity, knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the newborn infant has been affected by a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or prenatal substance use disorder or has withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal substance exposure shall, as soon as reasonably practicable but not later than 24 hours after the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the newborn infant is so affected or has such symptoms, notify an agency which provides child welfare services of the condition of the infant and refer each person who is responsible for the welfare of the infant to an agency which provides child welfare services for appropriate counseling, training or other services. A notification and referral to an agency which provides child welfare services pursuant to this subsection shall not be construed to require prosecution for any illegal action.

4. A report must be made pursuant to subsection 1 by the following persons:

(a) A person providing services licensed or certified in this State pursuant to, without limitation, chapter 450B, 630, 630A, 631, 632, 633, 634, 634A, 635, 636, 637, 637B, 639, 640, 640A, 640B, 640C, 640D, 640E, 641, 641A, 641B or 641C of NRS or chapter 653 of NRS.

(b) Any personnel of a medical facility licensed pursuant to chapter 449 of NRS who are engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of persons or an administrator, manager or other person in charge of such a medical facility upon notification of suspected abuse or neglect of a child by a member of the staff of the medical facility.

(c) A coroner.

(d) A member of the clergy, practitioner of Christian Science or religious healer, unless the person has acquired the knowledge of the abuse or neglect from the offender during a confession.

(e) A person employed by a public school or private school and any person who serves as a volunteer at such a school.

(f) Any person who maintains or is employed by a facility or establishment that provides care for children, children’s camp or other public or private facility, institution or agency furnishing care to a child.

(g) Any person licensed pursuant to chapter 424 of NRS to conduct a foster home.

(h) Any officer or employee of a law enforcement agency or an adult or juvenile probation officer.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 432B.225, an attorney.

(j) Any person who maintains, is employed by or serves as a volunteer for an agency or service which advises persons regarding abuse or neglect of a child and refers them to persons and agencies where their requests and needs can be met.

(k) Any person who is employed by or serves as a volunteer for a youth shelter. As used in this paragraph, “youth shelter” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 244.427.

(l) Any adult person who is employed by an entity that provides organized activities for children, including, without limitation, a person who is employed by a school district or public school.

5. A report may be made by any other person.

6. If a person who is required to make a report pursuant to subsection 1 knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child has died as a result of abuse or neglect, the person shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, report this belief to an agency which provides child welfare services or a law enforcement agency. If such a report is made to a law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency shall notify an agency which provides child welfare services and the appropriate medical examiner or coroner of the report. If such a report is made to an agency which provides child welfare services, the agency which provides child welfare services shall notify the appropriate medical examiner or coroner of the report. The medical examiner or coroner who is notified of a report pursuant to this subsection shall investigate the report and submit his or her written findings to the appropriate agency which provides child welfare services, the appropriate district attorney and a law enforcement agency. The written findings must include, if obtainable, the information required pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2 of NRS 432B.230.

7. The agency, board, bureau, commission, department, division or political subdivision of the State responsible for the licensure, certification or endorsement of a person who is described in subsection 4 and who is required in his or her professional or occupational capacity to be licensed, certified or endorsed in this State shall, at the time of initial licensure, certification or endorsement:

(a) Inform the person, in writing or by electronic communication, of his or her duty as a mandatory reporter pursuant to this section;

(b) Obtain a written acknowledgment or electronic record from the person that he or she has been informed of his or her duty pursuant to this section; and

(c) Maintain a copy of the written acknowledgment or electronic record for as long as the person is licensed, certified or endorsed in this State.

8. The employer of a person who is described in subsection 4 and who is not required in his or her professional or occupational capacity to be licensed, certified or endorsed in this State must, upon initial employment of the person:

(a) Inform the person, in writing or by electronic communication, of his or her duty as a mandatory reporter pursuant to this section;

(b) Obtain a written acknowledgment or electronic record from the person that he or she has been informed of his or her duty pursuant to this section; and

(c) Maintain a copy of the written acknowledgment or electronic record for as long as the person is employed by the employer.

9. Before a person may serve as a volunteer at a public school or private school, the school must:

(a) Inform the person, in writing or by electronic communication, of his or her duty as a mandatory reporter pursuant to this section and NRS 392.303;

(b) Obtain a written acknowledgment or electronic record from the person that he or she has been informed of his or her duty pursuant to this section and NRS 392.303; and

(c) Maintain a copy of the written acknowledgment or electronic record for as long as the person serves as a volunteer at the school.

10. As used in this section:

(a) “Private school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 394.103.

(b) “Public school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 385.007.

(Added to NRS by 1985, 1371; A 1987, 2132, 2220; 1989, 439; 1993, 2229; 1999, 3526; 2001, 780, 1150; 2001 Special Session, 37; 2003, 910, 1211; 2005, 2031; 2007, 1503, 1853, 3084; 2009, 2996; 2011, 791, 1097; 2013, 957, 1086; 2015, 2316; 2017, 1382, 2059, 3985; 2019, 2719, effective January 1, 2020)