Section 273.420

Title XVII AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS

Chapter 273

Effective - 28 Aug 2026, see footnote   

  273.420.  Abuse or neglect of eligible adult or child, control officers and humane investigators required to report. — 1.  Beginning January 1, 2028, any animal control officer or animal humane investigator, as defined in section 273.415, shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the department of health and senior services if such person has reasonable cause to suspect that an eligible adult, as such term is defined in section 192.2400, has been subject to abuse or neglect or observes the eligible adult being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.

  2.  Beginning January 1, 2028, any animal control officer or animal humane investigator shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the children's division, in accordance with the provisions of sections 210.109 to 210.183, if such person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.

  3.  Any person required to report under this section may also report the suspicion of abuse or neglect to any law enforcement agency or juvenile office.  Such report shall not, however, take the place of reporting to the department or the division.

  4.  The penalty for failing to report as required under this section shall be a class A misdemeanor.

  5.  As used in this section, the term "reasonable cause" shall mean that abuse or neglect is more likely than not to have occurred.

  6.  The provisions of this section shall expire on December 31, 2030.

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(L. 2026 H.B. 2292)

Expires 12-31-30