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AB 412

Relating to: mandatory reporting requirements and referring cases of threatened or suspected child abuse to law enforcement. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lindee Brill and 20 co-sponsors

AB 412 expands mandatory reporting: all suspected/threatened child abuse must be referred to local law enforcement, and adds frontline child-welfare staff as mandatory reporters.

Public hearing held
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Bill Summary · AB 412

AB 412 — Summary

Relating to: mandatory reporting requirements and referring cases of threatened or suspected child abuse to law enforcement.

Main purpose / intent

AB 412 would expand mandatory reporting and referral obligations in Wisconsin child‑welfare law so that county child welfare departments (and similar agencies) generally must refer all reports of threatened or suspected child abuse to local law enforcement. The bill also expands who is a statutory mandatory reporter to include certain child‑welfare employees.

Key provisions

  • Amends Wis. Stat. § 48.981 and related provisions to:

    • Require a county department, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF to refer to the sheriff or police department all cases of suspected or threatened abuse reported to it (subject to specified exceptions). The current law requires an expedited referral only for suspected/threatened sexual abuse or trafficking; AB 412 broadens the referral duty to all abuse reports.
    • Continue the 12‑hour referral timeline for certain cases; the bill codifies referral timeframes already used for some abuse categories.
    • Add to the list of mandatory reporters “an employee of an agency whose duties include direct interaction with children or the handling of child welfare cases.”
    • Clarify that “social worker” (already a listed mandatory reporter) means an individual holding a social worker certificate under the relevant licensing board.

  • Retains statutory definitions of “abuse” (non‑accidental physical injury, sexual abuse, trafficking, meth manufacture in presence of child, and certain severe emotional injury/neglect circumstances) by reference to existing law.

Who would be affected

  • County child welfare departments, DCF, and licensed child welfare agencies (operational responsibility for referrals).
  • Local law enforcement agencies and sheriffs (increased number of referrals to receive, investigate, and respond to).
  • Child welfare caseworkers and other agency employees with direct child contact (added to mandatory reporter list).
  • Children, families, and caregivers — potentially more frequent law‑enforcement involvement following welfare reports.

Fiscal, operational, and policy impacts

  • DCF’s fiscal note (DCF, 9/22/2025) projects indeterminate increased costs to state and local child welfare agencies and to law enforcement. Impacts depend on the number of additional reports referred, added investigation workload (joint visits, interviews, information sharing), and potential increases in out‑of‑home placements.
  • DCF warns of potential unsustainable workloads for local law enforcement and child welfare staff; possible increases in parental arrests and related child placement costs. No appropriation is included in the bill.

Procedural status & timeline

  • LRB‑2820/1 (AB 412) introduced and assigned to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
  • Fiscal estimate received (9/22/2025). Public hearing held (12/03/2025).
  • Further committee consideration and floor action would determine next steps.

Notes

  • The bill amends state statutory reporting/referral duties; it does not create new criminal penalties or overhaul investigation standards beyond the referral requirement.
  • Exact implementation details (e.g., exceptions, coordination protocols between child welfare and law enforcement) would depend on committee amendments, departmental policies, and possible future guidance from DCF.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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