HB 445 -- CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PRACTITIONERS

CO-SPONSORS:  Portwood, Cooper (155), Willoughby, Bishop

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Children and Families by a vote of 13 to 0.

This bill removes Christian Science practitioners from the
mandated child abuse and neglect reporter portion of Chapter 210,
RSMo, on child protection and places them in the mandated child
abuse and neglect reporter portion of Chapter 352 on religious
and charitable organizations.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill ensures that Christian
Science practitioners are treated the same as other ministers for
purposes of being mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Portwood; and Riley
Seay.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Amy Woods, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am