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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6312 (2026)

 Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse.

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§ 6312.  Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse.

 Any person may make an oral or written report of suspected child abuse, which may be submitted electronically, or cause a report of suspected child abuse to be made to the department, county agency or law enforcement, if that person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse.

(Apr. 15, 2014, P.L.417, No.33, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)

 

Cross References.  Section 6312 is referred to in section 6320 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2002–2024 · leading case: D.C. v. Dep't of Human Servs., 150 A.3d 558 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2016).
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D.C. v. Dep't of Human Servs., 150 A.3d 558 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2016). “23 Pa. C.S. § 6312. 5 A CYS caseworker then investigates.”
Commonwealth v. Spanier, 192 A.3d 141 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “See 23 Pa.C.S. § 6312 (emphasis added). The statute imposes an affirmative duty to report such cases on mandated reporters, and encourages the affirmative duty in cases of those who are not mandated reporters.”
Burns v. Alexander, 776 F. Supp. 2d 57 (W.D. Pa. 2011). “” 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6312 . A report submitted by an individual having a statutory duty of disclosure “shall be made immediately by telephone and in writing within 48 hours after the oral report.”
In re Est. of Wagner, 791 A.2d 444 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002). “§ 6311, which relates to persons required to report suspected child abuse, and Section 6312, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6312, which relates to the reporting procedure for reports of suspected child abuse.”
Com. v. Spanier, G., No. 1093 MDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 26, 2018). “See 23 Pa.C.S. § 6312 (emphasis added). The statute imposes an affirmative duty to report such cases on mandated reporters, and encourages the affirmative duty in cases of those who are not mandated reporters.”
S.F. v. PA DHS, No. 574 M.D. 2020 (Pa. Commw. Ct. July 11, 2023). “23 Pa. C.S. § 6312. Additionally, Section 6311(a) of the CPSL requires certain adult individuals designated as mandated reporters (including health care workers, school employees, clergy, law enforcement officers and foster parents), to report suspected child abuse if they have…”
Com. v. Jonnala, K., No. 977 EDA 2023 (Pa. Super. Ct. May 15, 2024). “23 Pa.C.S. § 6312 (emphasis added). - 14 - J-S09033-24 To begin, we agree that the trial evidence was sufficient to prove that Jonnala made a report under section 4906.”
Whaley v. Wattlington, No. 2:23-cv-01344 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 17, 2023). “See 23 Pa. C.S. § 6312 (allowing any person with “reasonable cause to suspect” child abuse to make a report of the suspected abuse).”
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