§ 6318. Immunity from liability.
(a) General rule.--A person, hospital, institution, school, facility, agency or agency employee acting
in good faith shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability that might otherwise
result from any of the following:
(1) Making a report of suspected child abuse or making a referral for general protective
services, regardless of whether the report is required to be made under this chapter.
(2) Cooperating or consulting with an investigation under this chapter, including providing
information to a child fatality or near-fatality review team.
(3) Testifying in a proceeding arising out of an instance of suspected child abuse or
general protective services.
(4) Engaging in any action authorized under section 6314 (relating to photographs, medical
tests and X-rays of child subject to report), 6315 (relating to taking child into
protective custody), 6316 (relating to admission to private and public hospitals)
or 6317 (relating to mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths).
(b) Departmental and county agency immunity.--An official or employee of the department or county agency who refers a report of
suspected child abuse for general protective services to law enforcement authorities
or provides services as authorized by this chapter shall have immunity from civil
and criminal liability that might otherwise result from the action.
(c) Presumption of good faith.--For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required
to report pursuant to section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected
child abuse) and of any person required to make a referral to law enforcement officers
under this chapter shall be presumed.
(Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Nov. 29, 2006, P.L.1581, No.179,
eff. 60 days; July 3, 2008, P.L.276, No.33, eff. 180 days; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1201,
No.119, eff. July 1, 2014)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
14
cases (
6 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case:
T.A. v. Allen, 669 A.2d 360 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995).
T.A. v. Allen, 669 A.2d 360 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995).
· cites it 4× “Throughout the law, there exists this heightened protection afforded to children.”
Althaus by Althaus v. Cohen, 710 A.2d 1147 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998).
· cites it 2× “In their cross-appeal, the Althauses and their daughter Nicole argue that the trial court erred when it: (1) concluded that the good faith immunity provisions of the child protective services law, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318, precluded the Althauses from using Dr.”
Grunde v. Huff, 639 A.2d 1227 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994).
· cites it 2× “Notwithstanding 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318, 2 the child’s parents, Kathleen and Arno Grunde, appellees, hereinafter referred to as parents, filed a complaint on December 17, 1990, against Dr.”
Com. v. Coyne, S.O., 2025 Pa. Super. 201 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).
· cites it 11× “Whether the trial court erred in failing to consider the placement of the immunity statute — 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318 — within Title 23, Subchapter B, entitled “Provisions and Responsibilities for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse”, which placement indicates that § 6318 is limited to…”
L. Pittman v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019).
· cites it 5× “I would vacate the adjudication of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, State Board of Psychology (Board), which imposed discipline and a “civil penalty” on Laurie S.”
N.S. v. W. Pennsylvania Sch. for Blind Child. (W.D. Pa. 2024).
· cites it 3× “” 23 Pa. C.S. § 6318. In addition, “[f]or the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required to report pursuant to section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse) and of any person required to make a referral to law…”
Com. v. Kiessling, C., 2025 Pa. Super. 162 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).
· cites it 4× “Invoking the immunity provision outlined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318, Appellees each filed motions to quash and dismiss the criminal information on March 8, 11, 13, and 2024, respectively.”
Leary v. Cook (E.D. Pa. 2020).
· cites it 2× “See 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6318 . Defendants also argue that the claims should be dismissed because they were not personally involved in the alleged violations of Plaintiff’s rights.”
Harrington v. Upmc (W.D. Pa. 2022).
· cites it 2× “UPMC seeks dismissal of these claims contending that its alleged disclosures to AC-CYF were made in good faith, and it therefore is immune from liability pursuant to the CPSL, citing 23 Pa. C.S. § 6318(a)(1). Because good faith is presumed, 23 Pa.”
Com. v. Jonnala, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).
“at 47 (citing 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318(a), (c)). He requests a new trial.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6318(a) — 4 cases
T.A. v. Allen, 669 A.2d 360 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995).
“Throughout the law, there exists this heightened protection afforded to children.”
Com. v. Jonnala, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).
“at 47 (citing 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318(a), (c)). He requests a new trial.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6318(a)(1) — 2 cases
Harrington v. Upmc (W.D. Pa. 2022).
“UPMC seeks dismissal of these claims contending that its alleged disclosures to AC-CYF were made in good faith, and it therefore is immune from liability pursuant to the CPSL, citing 23 Pa. C.S. § 6318(a)(1). Because good faith is presumed, 23 Pa.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6318(b) — 3 cases
T.A. v. Allen, 669 A.2d 360 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995).
“Throughout the law, there exists this heightened protection afforded to children.”
Com. v. Coyne, S.O., 2025 Pa. Super. 201 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).
“Whether the trial court erred in failing to consider the placement of the immunity statute — 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318 — within Title 23, Subchapter B, entitled “Provisions and Responsibilities for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse”, which placement indicates that § 6318 is limited to…”
Com. v. Kiessling, C., 2025 Pa. Super. 162 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).
“Invoking the immunity provision outlined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6318, Appellees each filed motions to quash and dismiss the criminal information on March 8, 11, 13, and 2024, respectively.”
— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6318(c) — 2 cases
N.S. v. W. Pennsylvania Sch. for Blind Child. (W.D. Pa. 2024).
“” 23 Pa. C.S. § 6318. In addition, “[f]or the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of a person required to report pursuant to section 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse) and of any person required to make a referral to law…”
Harrington v. Upmc (W.D. Pa. 2022).
“UPMC seeks dismissal of these claims contending that its alleged disclosures to AC-CYF were made in good faith, and it therefore is immune from liability pursuant to the CPSL, citing 23 Pa. C.S. § 6318(a)(1). Because good faith is presumed, 23 Pa.”
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