Animal abuse or neglect suspected, hotline report to MACA

273.410. Animal abuse or neglect suspected, hotline report to MACA — information to be requested, report to law enforcement — immunity from liability, when — confidentiality — failure to report, procedure — expiration date. — 1. When any psychologist, mental health professional, social worker, school counselor, teacher, or other school professional, or juvenile officer, law enforcement or peace officer, probation or parole officer, home health aide, adult or child protective services worker, or volunteer or personnel of a community service program that offers support or advocacy services for children in foster care has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes an animal being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, that person shall make a report to the hotline established and operated by the Missouri Animal Control Association (MACA), or a successor entity, within one day. As used in this section, "reasonable cause" shall mean that abuse or neglect is more likely than not to have occurred.

2. The hotline worker shall request all of the following information for the report:

(1) The name and description of the animal involved, if known;

(2) The address and telephone number of the owner or other person responsible for the care of the animal, if known;

(3) The nature and extent of the suspected abuse or neglect; and

(4) Any other information that the person making the report believes may be useful in establishing the existence of the suspected abuse or neglect or the identity of the person causing the abuse or neglect.

3. Upon receiving a report of suspected abuse or neglect, MACA, or a successor entity, shall provide the report to any duly-authorized law enforcement official and, if appropriate, a county or municipal animal control officer or any Missouri peace officer standards and training (POST)-certified or MACA-certified animal cruelty investigator.

4. Any person required to report animal abuse or neglect under this section shall be immune from civil and criminal liability in connection with making any required reports if the person acted in good faith when making such report.

5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any information identifying a person who reports suspected animal abuse or neglect under this section shall be confidential and shall not be deemed a public record and shall not be subject to the provisions of section 109.180 or chapter 610.

6. No person required to make a report of animal abuse or neglect under this section shall knowingly make a false report. The penalty for making a false report and the defenses to prosecution shall be the same as under section 575.080.

7. If an agency or political subdivision of the state determines that an employee who is a mandated reporter under this section has failed to make a report as required by this section, the agency or political subdivision shall issue a written notice to such employee that shall include a finding of facts in support of the failure to make a report and an explanation of the reporting requirement. Such notice shall not be retained in a permanent employment file and shall be retained in a separate file or database maintained by the agency or political subdivision. Such notice shall be considered a closed record under the provisions of chapter 610.

8. Any person required to make a report under this section who is subject to professional licensure and who fails to make a report as required by this section shall be subject to discipline by his or her respective licensing board.

9. The duty to report animal abuse or neglect and any associated penalties for failure to report animal abuse or neglect imposed under this section shall not be in effect during any period in which the hotline established and operated by MACA, or a successor entity, has yet to begin or has otherwise ceased operation and shall resume when the hotline is operational.

10. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "Animal", dogs, cats, rabbits, and domesticated birds;

(2) "Successor entity", any entity designated as such jointly by the department of health and senior services and the children's division.

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