In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d : Ju ne 3 0

, 2 0 14

S 1 4 A0 3 0 9 . MAY v . THE S TATE.

B L ACKW EL L , Ju stic e

.

Th is c a se c o n c e rn s th e m e a n in g o f OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5

, wh ic h re q u ire s sc h o o l

te a c h e rs 1 a n d c e rta in o th e r pe rso n s, 2 if th e y h a v e “ re a so n ab le c a u se to b e lie v e

1 T h e statute does not def i ne “school teachers,” but it b roadly def ines a “school” a s “any public or private pre-kindergart e n , elem entary school, secondary school, technical school, vocational school, college, u niversity

, or institution of postsecond a ry e ducation.” OCGA § 19-7-5 (b) (9).

2 These other persons are identif i ed in OCGA § 19-7-5 (c) (1) (A) - (O): (A) Phy sicians licensed to practice m edicine, phy sician a ssistants, interns, or residents; (B) Hospital or m edical personnel; (C) Dentists; (D) Licensed psy c hologists and persons participating in internships to o btain licensing pursuant to Chapter 39 of Title 43; (E) Podiatrists; ( F ) R e gistered prof

essional nurses or licensed practical n urses licensed pursuant to Chapter 26 of Title 43 or nurse’s aides; (G) Prof e ssional counselors, social w orkers, or m arriage and f am ily therapists licensed pursuant to Chapter 10A of Title 43; (H) School teachers; (I) School adm inistrators; (J) School guidance c ounselors, visiting teachers, school social wor k e r s , or school psy chologists certif ied pursuant to Chapter 2 of Title 20; (K) Child welf

are agency personnel, as that agency is def ined pursuant to Code Section 49-5-12;th a t a c h ild h a s b e e n a b u se d ,” to m a k e a re p ort o f su c h a b u se

. OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5

(c ) (1 ) (H). Th e s t a t u te d e fin e s “ c h ild a b u se ” to in c lu de “ se xu a l a b u se o f a

c h ild ,” 3 OCGA § 1 9-7 -5 (b ) (4 ) (C), a n d it d e fin e s “ se x u a l a b u se ” to in c lu d e

n in e sp e c ifie d v a rie tie s o f se x u a l a c tiv ity in v o lv in g a c h ild

. 4 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (b )

(1 0 ) (A)

- (I). Th e sta tu te m a k e s it a c rim e f o r a p e rso n re q u ire d to m a k e su c h

a re p o rt to “ k n o win g ly a n d willfu lly fa il[] to d o so .” OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (h ).

Ac c o rd in g to th e re c o rd

, K ristin Ly n n Ma y wa s e m

p lo y e d a s a te a c h e r a t

Riv e r Rid g e Hig h S c h o o l, a p u blic se c o nd ary sc h o o l in th e Ch e ro k e e Co u n ty

S c h oo l Distric t. In Ja n ua ry 20 1 1

, Ma y sp o k e w i t h a f o r m e r stu de n t — P

. M.,

(L) Child-counseling personnel; (M) Child service organization personnel; (N) Law enf

orcem ent personnel; [ and] (O) Reproductive health care f acility or pregnancy resource center p ersonnel

and volunteers.

3 F or the purposes of the s ta t u t e , “ c h i l d abuse” also includes “[ p]hy sical injury or death inf licted upon a child by a parent or caretaker thereof b y other than accidental m eans,”

OCGA § 19-7-5 ( b) (4) (A), “ [ n]eglect or exploitation of a child b y a parent or c a r e t a ker

thereof ,” OCGA § 1 9-7-5 (b) (4) ( B), and “[ s]exual exploitation of a child.” OCGA § 19-7-5 (b) (4) (D).

4 The statute excepts sexual activities between a m i nor and the spouse of the m inor,

as well as “consensual sex acts involving persons of the opposite sex when the s ex acts are between m inors or b etween a m inor and an adult who is not m o re than f i ve y ears older than

the m inor.” OCGA § 1 9-7-5 (b) (10). W e note, however, t hat i t d oes not except — and,

theref ore, appears t o require the reporting of

— other consensual activities in which a m inor

of the legal age of

consent lawf

ully m ay engage.

2th e n six te e n y e a rs o f a ge

— w h o n o lo n g e r wa s e n ro lle d a s a stu d e n t a t Riv e r

Rid g e , a n d wh o re c e n tly h a d tra nsfe rre d to a sc h o o l in th e F u lto n Co u n ty S c h o o l

Distric t

. A s th e y sp o k e , P

. M. d isc lo se d th a t sh e p re v io u sly h a d a se x u a l

re la tio nsh ip with Ro b e rt Le slie Mo rro w, a p a ra pro fe ssio na l a t Riv e r R id g e

. No

o n e a p p e a rs to d isp u te th a t th is re la tio n sh ip in v o lv e d se x u a l a c t i v i t i e s th a t a re

d e fin e d in OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (b ) (1 0 ) a s “ se x u a l a bu se

. ” M a y , h o we v e r, d id n o t

m a k e a n y re po rt o f th e se x u a l a bu se

.

Wh e n th e se c irc u m sta n c e s la te r c a m e to th e a tte n tio n o f la w e n fo rc e m e n t,

Ma y wa s c h a rg e d b y a c c u sa tio n with a c rim in a l v io la tio n of OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5

.

In p e rtin e nt p a

rt, th e a c c u sa tio n 5 a lle g e d th a t Ma y :

[I] n Ch e ro k e e Co u n ty

, Ge o rg ia

, i n J a n u a ry 2 0 1 1

, did u n la wfu lly

th e n a n d t h e r e c om m it th e o ffe n se o f F AILURE TO REP ORT

CHILD ABUS E, b y be in g a sc h o o l te a c h e r, a m an d a to ry re p orte r with in th e m e a nin g a nd p urv ie w o f [OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (1 )]

, a n d

k n o win g ly a n d willfu lly fa ilin g to re p ort a c a se o f su sp e c te d c hild

a b u se , to wit, se xu a l a

b u se , a g a in st a stu d e n t, [P

. M.]

. . ..

In re sp o n se to th e a c c u sa tio n , Ma y file d a d e m u rre r a n d ple a in b a r, c o n te n d in g

th a t th e a c c u sa tio n c h a rg e d n o c rim e a s a m a tte r o f la w. Wh e n th e tria l c o urt

5 The State has f

i led three accusations i n this case. For the purposes o f this appeal, the

relevant accusation is the last of these accusations. The allegations recited below are taken

f rom the last accusation.

3h e a rd a rg u m e n t o n th e de m u rre r a n d p le a in ba r, th e S ta te a n d Ma y stip u la te d to

c e rta in fa c ts in a dd itio n to th o se a lle g e d e x p lic itly in th e a c c u sa tio n , in c lu d in g

th a t P

. M

. — b y th e tim e sh e sp o k e with M a y in Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 1 a n d d isc lo se d h e r

se x u a l re l a t io n sh ip with Mo rro w — n o lo n g e r wa s a stu d e n t a t Riv e r Rid g e

.

Be c a u se P

. M

. wa s n ot th e n e n ro lle d a t Riv e r Rid g e , M ay a r g u e d

, sh e h a d n o

d u ty u n d e r OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (1 ) to m a k e a re p ort.

Th e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d th e d e m u rre r a n d p le a in ba r, re a so n in g th a t a sc h o o l

te a c h e r is re qu ire d to re p o rt th e a b u s e o f a n y c h ild

, e ve n o n e w ith wh o m th e

te a c h e r ha s n o re la tio n s h i p a t a ll. Ac c o rd in g to th e tria l c o u rt, to p ro v e a

v io la tio n o f O CG A § 1 9 -7 -5 in th is c a se , th e S ta te w o u ld o n ly b e re q u ire d to

p ro v e :

(1 ) th a t [Ma y ] w a s a te a c h e r, (2 ) th a t [Ma y ] k ne w o r su sp e c te d o n e

o r m o re in sta n c e s o f c h ild a b u se a s d e fin e d in OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5

, (3 )

th a t [Ma y ] fa ile d to re po rt th e a b u se , a n d (4 ) th a t th e c rim e o c c u rre d

in Ch e ro k e e Co u n ty

.

In th e a lte rn a tiv e , th e tria l c ou rt re a so n e d th a t, e v e n if a re la tio nsh ip with th e

c h ild w e re re q u ire d, p ro o f th a t M a y h a d ta u gh t P

. M. in th e p a st wo u ld b e

e n o u g h to e sta b lish su c h a re la tio n sh ip

. T h e tria l c o u rt c e rtifie d its d e nia l o f th e

d e m u rre r a n d p le a i n b a r fo r im m e dia te re v ie w, a n d Ma y file d an a p p lic a tio n

4with th e Co urt o f Ap pe a ls fo r le a v e to ta k e a n in te rlo c u to ry a p p e a l. 6 Th e Co urt

o f A p p e a ls d e n ie d th a t a

p p lic a tio n in a n u n re p o rte d o rd e r, a n d Ma y th e n f i l e d

a p e titio n fo r a writ o f c e rtio ra ri in th is Co u rt. W e g ra n t e d t h e p e t itio n to

c o n sid e r wh e th e r th e o b li g a t i o n to re p o rt a b u se u n d e r O CGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (1 )

e x te n d s to a ll c h ild re n o r in ste a d is lim ite d to c h ild re n to wh o m th e re p o rte r ha s

a d u ty to a tte n d

. 7 F o r th e re a so n s th a t fo llo w, we c on c lu d e th a t th e o b lig a tio n is

lim ite d, a n d sc h o o l te a c h e rs a n d o th e r re p o rte rs o n ly h a v e an ob lig a tio n to re p ort

th e a b u se o f c h ild re n to wh o m th ey a tte n d in c o nn e c tio n with th e p ro fe ssio n ,

o c c u p a tio n , e m

p lo y m e n t, o r v o lu n te e r wo rk b y wh ic h th e y a re id e n tifie d in

su b p a ra g ra

p h s (c ) (1 ) (A) - (O) a s a

m an d a to ry re p o rte r.

Ou r in q u iry in to th e sc op e o f th e o b lig a tio n u n d e r OCGA § 19 -7 -5 (c ) (1 )

b e g in s, o f c o u rse , with th e wo rd s o f th a t p ro v isio n . P a ra g ra p h (c ) (1 ) sa y s th a t

m a n d a to ry re p o rte rs “h a v in g re a so n a b le c a u se to be lie v e th a t a c h ild h a s b e e n

a b u se d sh a ll re po rt o r c a

u se re p o rts o f th a t a

b u se to be m a d e a s p ro v id e d in th is

6 See generally

OCGA § 5-6-34 (b).

7 W hen we granted the petition f o r a w r i t of c e rtiorari, we specif ically directed the parties to address t his issue in their brief s. W e also a s ked the parties to address another issue,

whether the willf

u lness elem ent of OCGA § 19-7-5 (h) requires proof that t he accused acted with an evil purpose or with knowledge of her legal duty to report. Because our resolution

of the f irst issue is s uf

f icient to dispose of this appeal, however, we d ecide nothing about the

willf ulness elem ent. W e leave willf ulness f o r another day

.

5Co d e se c tio n .” If we sto p p e d th e re , it wo u ld b e e a sy e n o u g h to c o n c lu d e — ju st

a s th e tria l c o u rt in th is c a se d id

— th a t th e o blig a tio n o f a m a n da to ry re p o rte r

e x te n d s to a n y c h ild o f wh o m th e re p o rte r le a rn s o f a b use

. Afte r a ll, lo o k in g

o n ly to th e wo rd s o f p a ra g ra p h (c ) (1 ), th e sta tu to ry re fe re n c e to “ a c h ild ” wo u ld

se e m to re fe r to a n y c h ild a t a ll, e v e n a c h ild n o t c o n n e c te d in a n y wa y with th e

re p o rte r. Bu t it wo u ld b e a m ista k e to e nd o u r a n a ly sis with o u t first c o n sid e rin g

th e fu ll c o n te x t o f th o se wo rd s.

As we ha v e e x p la in e d b e fo re , “ [w] h e n we c o n sid e r th e m e a n in g o f a

sta tu te

, we m

u st p re su m e th a t th e Ge n e ra l Asse m b ly m e a n t wh a t it sa id a n d sa id

wh a t i t m e a nt.” De a l v

. Co le m a n , 2 9 4 Ga

. 1 7 0

, 17 2 (1 ) (a ) (7 5 1 S E2 d 3 3 7 )

(2 0 1 3 ) (c ita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d). To th is e n d

, “ w e m u st re a d th e

sta tu to ry te x t in its m o st n a tu ra l a n d re a so n a b le wa y , a s a n ord in a ry sp e a k e r o f

th e En glish la n g ua g e w o u ld .” Id

. (c ita tio n s a n d pu nc tu a tio n o mi tte d ). In o u r

se a rc h fo r th e m e a

n in g o f a p a rtic u la r sta tu to ry p ro v isio n , we lo o k n o t o n ly to

th e wo rd s of th a t p ro v isio n , b u t we c o n sid e r its le g a l c o n te x t a s we ll. S e e S m ith

v

. Ellis, 2 9 1 Ga

. 5 6 6

, 5 7 3 (3 ) (a ) (7 3 1 S E 2 d 73 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ In c o n stru in g

sta tu te s, h owe v e r, we d o n o t re a d wo rd s in iso la tio n , b u t ra th e r in c on te x t.” ). S e e

a lso Bro w n v

. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 8 6 5

, 8 6 8 (2 ) (b ) (7 2 5 S E2 d 3 2 0 ) (2 0 1 2) (“ [W] o rd s

6o fte n g a in m e a n in g fro m c o n t e x t

. . . .” ). Afte r a ll, “[c ] o n te x t is a p rim a ry

d e t e r mi n a n t o f m e a n in g .” Sc a lia & G a rn e r, R EAD I N G L A W : T H E

I NTERPRETATI ON OF L EGAL T EXTS 1 6 7 (We st 2 0 1 2 ). F or c o nte x t, w e m a y lo o k

to o th e r p ro visio n s of th e sa m e sta tu te

, se e He n d ry v. He n d ry , 29 2 Ga

. 1

, 3 (1 )

(7 3 4 S E2 d 4 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ), th e stru c tu re a n d h isto ry o f th e wh o le sta tu te

, se e De a l,

2 9 4 Ga

. a t 18 4 (2 ) (b ), a n d th e o th e r la w — c o n sti t u t i o n a l, sta tu to ry , a n d

c o m m o n la w a lik e — th a t fo rm s th e le g a l b a c k gro u n d o f th e sta tu to ry p ro v isio n

in q ue stio n

. S e e P e a c h tre e -Ca in Co

. v

. Mc B e e , 2 5 4 Ga

. 9 1

, 9 3 (1 ) (3 2 7 S E2 d

1 8 8 ) (1 98 5 ).

With th e se p rin c ip le s in m in d

, we tu rn n o w to th e c o n te xt of OCGA § 1 9

-

7 -5 (c ) (1 ), a n d w e sta rt with th e o th e r p ro v i s io n s an d stru c tu re o f th e sta tu te

.

Alth ou g h p a ra gra

p h (c ) (1 ) id e n tifie s th e p e rso ns re q u ire d to m a k e a re p o rt,

o th e r p ro v isio n s of th e sta tu te d ire c t th e m a nn e r in wh ic h a re p o rt m u st b e m a d e

.

In g e n e ra l, a re p o rte r m

u st re p o rt d ire c tly “ to a c h ild we lfa re a g e n c y p ro v id in g

p ro te c tiv e se rv ic e s

. . . o r, in th e a b se n c e o f su c h ag e n c y , t o a n a p p ro p ria te

p o lic e a u th o rity o r d istric t a tto rn e y .” OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (e ). Th e re is, h o w e v e r, a

d iffe re n t re p o rtin g p r o c e du re fo r re p o rte rs in a n in stitu tio na l fa c ility

, a n d in

p a ra g ra p h (c ) (2 ), w h ic h p ro v id e s fo r th is a lte rn a tiv e p ro c e d ure , we fin d a

7sig nific a n t c lu e a b o u t th e e x te n t o f th e o b lig a tio n u nd e r p a ra gra p h (c ) ( 1 ) to

m a k e a re p o rt:

If a p e rso n is re qu ire d to re p o rt c h i ld a b u se p u rsu a n t to th is

su b se c tio n b e c a u se th a t p e rso n atte n d s to a c h ild p u rsu a nt to su c h

p e rso n ’s du tie s a s a n e mp lo y e e o r v o lu n te e r a t a h o sp ita l, sc h o o l,

so c ia l a g e n c

y

, o r simila r

fa c ility

, th a t p e rso n sh a ll n o tify th e p e rso n in c h a rg e o f th e fa c ility

, o r th e d e sig n a te d d e le g a te th e re of, a n d th e

p e rso n so n o tifie d sh a ll re p o rt o r c a u se a r ep o rt to b e m a d e in

a c c o rd a n c e w ith th is Co d e se c tio n

. An e m plo y e e o r v o lu n te e r wh o

m a k e s a re po rt to th e p e rso n d e sig n a te d p u rsu an t to th is p a ra g ra p h

sh a ll b e d e e m e d to h a v e fu lly c o m plie d with th is su b se c tio n

.

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (2 ) (e m p h a sis su p p lie d ). P a ra g ra p h (c ) (2 ) sp e a k s o f a n

e m p lo y e e o r v o lu n te e r o f a n in stitu tio na l fa c ility h a v in g an o b lig a tio n to m a k e

a re p o rt a b o u t t h e a

b u se o f a c h ild b e c a use sh e a tte n d s to th a t c hild a t th e

fa c ility

. If p a ra g ra

p h (c ) (2 ) m e a n s e x a c tly wh a t it sa y s — th a t a tte n d in g to a

c h ild is th e c ir c u ms t an c e th a t c a u se s th e o b lig a tio n to a rise

— th e n th e

o b lig a tio n n e c e ssa rily m

ust b e lim ite d to c h ild re n to wh o m a m a n d a to ry re p o rte r

a tte n d s. 8 We th in k th a t pa ra g ra p h ( c ) (2 ) is m o st re a so n a b ly u n d e rsto o d to

p re su p p o se ju st su c h a

lim ita tio n.

8 S u ch a lim itation would be, of course, consistent with the identif ication of m andat o r

y

r e p o r ters in OCGA § 19-7-5 (c) ( 1) (A)

- ( O), all of whom are identif i ed by ref e r e n c e t o a prof ession, an occupation, em p loy m ent, or volunteer w ork in the course of which one reasonably

m ight be expected to attend to children.

8To b e su re , we m u st c o n sid e r wh e th e r th e sta tu to ry re fe re n c e to a c a u sa l

lin k b e twe e n a tte n d in g to a c h ild a n d th e o b lig a tio n to m a k e a re p o rt re a so n a b ly

m ig h t b e re a d in a n o th e r wa y , o ne th a t d o e s no t p re su p po se th a t th e o b lig a tio n

is lim ite d in a ll c a se s to c h ild re n to wh o m th e re p o rte r a tte n d s. Ac c o rd in g to

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) ( 1 )

, t h e o b lig a tio n a rise s o n ly wh e n a m a n d a to ry re p o rte r

“ h a [s] re a so n a

b le c a u se to b e lie v e th a t a c h ild h a s b e e n a b u se d ,” a nd a tte n d in g

to a c hild is p e rh a

p s th e m o st c o m m o n wa y in w h ic h a m an d a to ry re p o rte r m ig h t

c o m e to ha v e c a

u se fo r su c h a b e lie f. If p a ra g ra p h (c ) (2 ) is m e a nt on ly to re fle c t

th is ra th e r o bv io u s fa c t, th e n its first se n te n c e pla u sib ly c o u ld b e re a d a s fo llo ws:

If a p e rso n is re q u ire d to re p o rt c h ild a b u se p u r s u an t to th is

s u b se c tio n b e c a

u se th a t p e rso n [c a m e to h a v e re a so n a b le c a u s e t o b e lie v e th a t a

c h ild h a s b e e n a

b u se d a s a re su lt o f] a tte n d [in g ] to a

c h ild pu rsu a n t to su c h pe rso n ’s d u tie s a s a n e mp l o y e e o f o r

v o lu n te e r a t a h o sp ita l, sc h oo l, so c ia l a g e n c y , o r sim ila r fa c ility

, th a t

p e rso n s h a ll n o tify th e p e rso n in c h a rg e o f th e fa c ility

, o r th e d e sig na te d d e le g a te th e re o f, a n d th e p e rso n so n o tifie d sh a ll re p o rt

o r c a u se a re p o rt to b e m a d e in a c c o rd a n c e with th is Co d e se c tio n

.

S u c h a re a d in g , h o we v e r, wo u ld m e a n th a t th e a lte rn a tiv e re p ortin g p ro c e d u re

d e sc rib e d in p a ra gra

p h (c ) (2 ) is n o t th e s o l e r e p o r tin g p ro c e d u re fo r p e rso n s

wh o a re m a n d a to ry re po rte rs b y v irtu e o f th e ir e m p lo y m e n t o r v o lu n te e r wo rk

a t in stitu tio n a l fa c ilitie s, so m e o f wh o m m ig h t h a ve “ re a so n a ble c a u se to b e lie v e

9th a t a c h ild h a s b e e n a b u se d”

— e v e n a c h ild e n tru ste d to th e c are an d pro te c tio n

o f o th e rs a t th e s a me in stitu tio n — in th e a b se n c e o f a n y d u ty to p e rso n a lly

a tte n d to th e c h ild

. 9

Th e a lte rn a tiv e re po rtin g pro c e d u re a p p e a rs to se rv e a nu m

b e r o f

im p o rta n t p u rp o se s, n o n e of wh ic h wo u ld b e w e ll se rv e d if it we re n o t ro u tin e ly

a v a ilable to e m

p lo y e e s a n d v o lu n te e rs a t an in stitu tio n a l fa c ility

. In th e se ttin g

o f su c h a fa c ility

, th e a lte rn a tiv e p ro c e d u re re lie ve s e m p lo y e e s a n d v o lu n te e rs

o f th e bu rd e n o f id e n tify in g th e a p p ro p ria te c hild we lfa re o r la w e n f o rc e m e n t

a g e n c y to w h o m a re p o rt m u st b e m a d e , a n d it p u ts th a t b u rd e n in ste a d o n “ th e

p e rso n in c h a rg e of th e fa c ility

, o r th e de sig n a te d d e le g a te th e re o f.” By d o in g so ,

th e a lte rn a tiv e p ro c e d u re m a k e s p ro m p t r e p o r t in g m o re lik e ly

, a n d it m a ke s

re p o rts m o re lik e ly to b e d ire c te d to th e a pp ro p ria te a g e n c y . Do u b t a m o n g th e

9 C onsider “hospital personnel, who are identif ied in OCGA § 19-7-5 (c) (1) (B) as

m andatory reporters. Many “hospital personnel”

— nurs e s , o r d e r lies, and t he like

— are assigned duties that include attending to patients. But o ther “hospital personnel”

— workers

in a hospital caf

e teria, janitors, and m aintenance staf f

, f or instance

— do n ot ordinarily attend

to patients. The latter sort o f “ hospital personnel” d o, however, regularly work around patients and the f

am ilies of patients, a nd in the c o urse of that work, i t i s hardly im plausible

to think that they m ight com e to have “reasonable cause to believe that a child [ being treated

as a patient of t he hospital] has b een abused.” I f such personnel m ight have a n obligation to
report the abuse, notwithstanding that they do not a t tend t o t he child abused, then t hey would

not f al l under the guidelines of paragraph (c) (2) and would b e required to m a k e a report directly to the appropriate child welf are or law enf

o rcem ent agency

.

1 0e m

p lo y e e s a n d v o lu n te e rs o f a f a c ility a b o u t th e pro p e r pro c e d ure b y wh ic h a

re p o rt is to b e m a d e u n d o u b te d ly wo u ld te n d to slo w th e m a k in g o f re p o rts a n d

so m e tim e s re su lt in th e ir m isd ire c tio n

. Th e a lte rn a tiv e pro c e d u re a lso se rv e s to

im p ro v e th e q u a l i t y o f th e re p o rtin g

. In a n in stitu tio n a l fa c ility

, m a n a g e m e n t

m a y k n o w fa r m o r e a b o u t th e c o n d itio n of a c h ild th a n a n y o n e e m p lo y e e o r

v o lu n te e r, a n d b y c h a n n e lin g a re po rt th ro u g h m an a ge m e n t, th e o p p o rtu n ity

e x ists fo r m a

n a g e m e n t to su p p le m e n t th e re p ort o f a n e mp l o y e e o r v olu n te e r

with a d d itio n a l p e rtin e n t in fo rm a tio n , so m e th in g th a t th e sta tu t e itse lf

c o n t e m pla te s e x p lic itly

. S e e OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (2 ) (a lth o u g h “ th e p e rs o n i n

c h a rg e o f th e fa c ility

, o r th e d e sig n a te d d e le g a te th e re o f,” m a y n o t su p p re ss o r

a lte r “ th e in fo rm a tio n p ro v id e d b y th e re p orte r,” su c h p e rso n “ m a y p ro vid e a n y

a d d itio n a l, re le v a nt, a n d n e c e ssa ry in fo rm a tio n w h e n m a k in g th e re p o rt” ).

Mo re o v e r, wh e n m o re th a n o n e re p o rte r h a s c o n ta c t with a c h ild a nd le a rn s o f

a b u se — so m e th in g th a t se e m s l i k e l y in a n in stitu tio n a l fa c ility

— th e

c h a n n e lin g of a re p o rt th ro u g h m a n a g e m e n t re d u c e s th e lik e lih o o d o f re d u n d a n t

re p o rts, p e rh a

p s to d iffe re n t a g e n c ie s or d iffe re n t p o in ts of c o n ta c t w ith in th e

sa m e a ge nc y

. T h e a lte rn a tiv e p ro c e du re th e re by a l so se rv e s to re du c e th e

a d m in istra tiv e bu rd e n o n th e a g e n c ie s to wh o m re p o rts m u st b e m a d e

. F in a lly

,

1 1b y d ire c tin g e m p lo y e e s a n d v o lu n te e rs to sh a re th e ir wo rrie s a b o u t c hild a

b use

with m a n a g e m e n t, th e a lte rn a tiv e pro c e d u re e n su re s th a t t h e i n stitu tio n a l fa c ility

itse lf

— wh ic h m a y b e a

b le to a c t m o re qu ic k ly to pro te c t a c h ild in its c a re a n d

p ro te c tio n th a n a c h ild w e lfa re o r la w e n fo rc e m e n t a g e n c y

— is a wa re o f th e

a b u se

. Th e p u rp o se s s e rv e d b y th e sta tu to ry a lte rn a tiv e re p ortin g p ro c e d u re

su g g e st stro n g l y th a t it wa s m e a nt to b e th e so le re p o rtin g p ro c e d u re fo r

e m p lo y e e s a n d vo lu n te e rs a t in stitu tio n a l fa c ilitie s. Co n se q u e n tly

, pa ra gra p h (c )

(2 ) is m o st re a so na

b ly u n d e rsto o d , we th in k , to p re su p p o se th a t th e o b lig a tio n

to m a k e a re p o rt is lim ite d to c h ild re n to wh o m th e re p o rte r a tte n d s.

Th e sta tu to ry h isto ry o f OCGA § 19 -7 -5 a lso su g g e sts th a t th e o b lig a tio n

is m o st re a so n a

b ly u n d e rsto o d in th is wa y

. Wh e n th e first v e rsio n o f th e sta tu te

wa s e n a c te d in 1 9 6 5 , su c h a lim ita tio n wa s e x p lic it:

An y p h y sic ia n [,] lic e n se d o ste o p a th ic p hy sic ia n , in te rn , re sid e n t,

p u b lic h e a lth n u rse o r w e lfa re wo rk e r h a v in g c a u se to b e lie v e th a t

a c h ild u n d e r th e a ge o f twe lv e b ro u g h t to h im o r c o min g b e fo re h im fo r e x a min a tio n

, c are o r tre a tme nt h a s h a d p h y sic a l in ju ry o r i n j u r i e s in flic te d u p o n h im o th e r th a n b y a c c id e n ta l m e a n s b y a

p a re n t o r c a re ta k e r, sh a ll re p o rt o r c a use re p o rts to b e ma d e in

a c c o rd a n c e with th e p ro v isio n s o f th is S e c tio n ; p ro v id e d

, ho w e v e r, th a t wh e n th e a tte nd a n c e o f a p hy sic i an w ith re sp e c t to a c h ild is

p u rsu a n t to th e pe rfo rm a n c e o f se rv ic e s a s a m e m b e r o f th e sta ff o f

a h o s p i t a l o r sim ila r in stitu tio n [,] h e sh a ll n o tify th e p e rso n in

c h a rg e o f th e in stitu tio n o r his d e sig n a te d d e le g a t e [

, ] wh o sh a ll

1 2re p o rt o r c a u se re p o rts to b e m a d e in a c c o rd a nc e with th e p ro v isio n s

o f th is se c tio n ; a nd p ro v id e d

, fu rth e r, th a t wh e n a n a p p a re ntly

a b u se d c h ild h a s b e e n se e n b y a p u b lic h e a lth n u rse o r w e l f a re

wo rk e r, th e n sa id p u b lic h e a lth nu rse o r we lfa re wo rk e r sh a ll re p o rt
h is o r h e r o b se rv a tio n to th e c o u n ty he a lth o ffic e r o r, if n o n e , to a n y lic e n se d ph y s i c i a n wh o sh a ll, a fte r e x a m in a tio n a n d if h e c o n c u rs th a t th e in

ju rie s we re in flic te d by o th e r th a n a c c id e n ta l m e a n s,

re p o rt o r c a

u se re po rts to b e m a d e in a c c o rd a n c e with th e p ro v isio n s

o f th is se c tio n

.

Ga

. L. 1 9 6 5

, p

. 5 88

, § 1 (e m p h a sis su p p lie d ). Th re e y e a rs la te r, th e sta tu te wa s

a m e n d e d to a d d d e n tists a n d p o d ia trists a s m a n d a to ry re p o rte rs, Ga

. L. 1 9 6 8

, p

.

1 1 9 6, § 1

, a n d it wa s a m e nd e d a g a in in 1 9 7 3 to e x te n d its p ro v isio n s to

“ e m p lo y e e [s] o f a lo c a l p u b lic sc h o ol sy ste m o r t h e S t a t e De p a rtm e n t o f

Ed u c a tio n , c o u n ty o r m

u n ic ip a l re c re a tio n p e r s o n n e l, [a n d ] o th e r p e rso n [s]

c h a rg e d with th e re sp o n sib ility fo r th e h e a lth

, we lfa re , or e du c a tio n o f a c h ild .”

Ga

. L. 1 9 7 3

, p

. 1 0

, § 1

. S till, th e sta tu te re ta i n e d th e e x p lic it lim ita tio n to

c h ild re n “b ro u g h t t o [a m a n d a to ry re p orte r] or c o m in g b e fo re h im fo r

e x a m in a tio n , c a re o r tre a tm e n t.” Id

.

Th e n e x t y e a

r, th e sta tu te w a s su b s t a n tia lly re writte n, a n d th e e x p lic it

lim ita tio n wa s o m itte d fro m th e re v ise d v e rsio n o f th e sta tu te

. S e e Ga

. L. 1 9 7 4

,

p

. 4 3 8

, § 1

. F ro m th a t o m issio n , o n e re a so n a b ly m ig h t c o n c lu d e th a t th e Ge n e ra l

Asse m bly me a n t to lift th e lim ita tio n , b ut fo r a n o th e r p ro v isio n of th e 1 9 7 4

1 3v e rsio n of th e sta tu te th a t p re su p p o se d

— in m u c h th e sa m e wa y a s th e m o d e rn

v e rsio n o f OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (2 ), b u t e ve n m o re c le a rly

— th a t th e o b lig a tio n

still wa s lim ite d to c h ild re n to wh o m th e m an d a to ry re p o rte r a tte nd s:

An y p h y sic ia n [,] lic e n se d o ste o p a th ic p hy sic ia n , in te rn , r e sid e n t,
d e n tist, p o d ia trist, p u b lic h e a lth n u rse , so c ia l wo rk e r, te a c h e r,

sc h o o l a d m in istra to r, c h ild c a re p e rso nn e l o r la w e n f o rc e m e n t

p e rso n n e l h a v in g c a

use to be lie v e th a t a c h i l d u nd e r th e a ge o f

e ig h te e n h a s h a d p h y sic a l in ju ry o r in ju rie s in flic te d up o n him o th e r th a n by a c c i d e n ta l m e a n s b y a p a re n t or c a re ta k e r, o r h a s b e e n

n e g le c te d o r e xp lo ite d b y a p a re n t o r c a re ta k e r, o r h a s b e e n se x u a lly

a ssa u lte d

, sh a ll re p o r t o r c a u se re p o rts to b e m a d e in a c c o rd a n c e with th e p ro v isio n s o f th is se c tio n ; p r o v id e d

, h o we v e r, th a t wh e n th e a tte n d

a n c e o f th e re p o rtin g p e rso n w ith re sp e c t t o a c h ild is

p u rsu a n t to th e pe rfo rm a n c e o f se rv ic e s a s a m e m b e r o f th e sta ff o f

a h o sp ita l, sc ho o l, so c ia l a ge n c y o r sim ila r fa c ility

, h e sh a ll n otify

th e p e rso n in c h a rg e fo th e fa c ility o r h is d e sig n a te d d e le g a te [,] wh o

s h al l re p o rt o r c a

use re p o rts to b e m a d e in a c c o rd a n c e with th e

p ro v isio n s o f th is S e c tio n

.

Id

. (e m p h a sis su p p lie d ). Th e sta tu te wa s a m e n de d a g a in in 1 97 7 to a d d

p sy c ho lo g ists a nd d a y c a re wo rk e rs a s m a n da to ry re p o rte rs, se e Ga

. L. 1 9 7 7, p

.

2 4 2

, § 1

, in 1 9 7 8 to c la rify th e a g e n c y to wh o m a re p o rt m u st b e m a d e , se e Ga

.

L. 1 9 7 8

, p

. 20 5 9

, § 1

, a n d in 19 8 0 to sp e c ify th a t a m a n d a to ry re po rte r la wfu lly

m a y p h o to g ra

p h th e in ju rie s o f a n a b u se d c h ild with o ut th e c o n se nt o f h is

p a re n ts. S e e Ga

. L. 1 9 8 0

, p. 9 2 1

, § 1

. In 19 81

, th e sta tu te w a s a m e nd e d y e t a g a in

to a d d “ h o sp ita l o r m e dic a l p e rso n n e l, ” “ n u rsin g p e rso n n e l,” “so c ia l wo rk

1 4p e rso n n e l,” a n d “sc h o o l g u id a n c e c o u nse lo rs” a s m a n d a to ry re po rte rs a n d t o a d d

n e g le c t, e x p lo ita tio n , a nd se x u a l e x p l o i t a t i o n t o th e c a te go rie s o f a

b use re q u irin g

a re p o rt, a m o n g o th e r c h a ng e s. Se e Ga

. L. 1 9 8 1

, p

. 1 0 3 4

, § 1

. S e v e n y e a rs la te r,

m o re c la sse s o f pe rso n s we re id e ntifie d a s m a n d a to ry re p o rte rs. S e e Ga

. L. 1 9 8 8

,

p

. 1 6 2 4

, § 1

. S till, th e sta tu te re ta in e d th e stru c tu re a n d c le a r p re su p p o sitio n o f

th e 1 9 7 4 a m e n d m e n t.

Th e sta tu te wa s re v ise d a g a in in 1 99 0, a n d a s a re su lt o f th a t re visio n , th e

sta tu te wa s se t o u t in a stru c tu re th a t p e rsists to th i s d a y. S e e G a

. L. 1 9 9 0

, p

.

1 7 6 1, § 1

. In e a c h o f th e e a rlie r v e rsio n s o f th e sta tu te

, th e p ro v isio n id e n tify in g

th e c la sse s o f m a nd a to ry re p o rte rs a n d th e p ro v isio n a b o u t th e re p o rt o f a c h ild

to wh o m th e re p o rte r a tte n d s in a n in stitu tio n a l fa c ility h a d a p p e a re d t o g e t h e r

in a sin g le se n t e n c e

. S e e , e .g ., Ga

. L. 1 9 7 4

, p. 4 3 8

, § 1. In 1 9 9 0

, fo r th e first

tim e , th e se p ro v isio n s we re se p a ra te d in to d istin c t pa ra gra ph s, ju st a s th e y a re

se p a ra te d to d a y

. To c le a n ly se p a ra te p ro v isio n s t h a t pre v io u sly ha d a p p e are d

to g e th e r in a sin g le se nte n c e , i t w a s n e c e ssa ry , o f c o u rse , to re write th e

b e g in n in g o f th e la tte r p ro v isio n

. Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e la tte r p ro v isio n wa s re writte n

in its m o d e rn fo rm :

1 5If a p e rso n is re q u ire d to re p o rt a b u se p u rsu a n t to th is su b se c tio n b e c a u se th a t pe rso n a tte n d s to a c h il d p u r su a n t to su c h p e rso n ’s

d u tie s a s a m e m

be r o f th e sta ff of a h osp ita l, sc ho ol, so c ia l a g e n c y ,

o r sim ila r fa c ility

, th a t p e rso n sh a ll n o tify th e p e rso n i n c h a rg e o f

th e fa c ility

, o r th e d e sig n a te d d e le ga te th e re o f, a n d th e p e rs o n s o

n o tifie d sh a ll re p o rt o r c a

u se a re p o rt to b e m a d e in a c c o rd a n c e w ith

th is Co de se c tio n

.

Ga . L. 1 9 9 0 , p . 1 7 6 1 , § 1

. 1 0

Alth o u g h th is re writte n p ro v isio n d o e s n o t sig n a l q u ite a s c le a rly a s e a rlie r

v e rsio n s o f th e sta tu te th a t th e o b lig a tio n to re po rt is lim ite d to c h ild re n to wh o m

th e re p o rte r a tte n ds, it n e v e rth e le ss is, a s w e h a v e e x p la in e d, re a so n a b ly

su sc e p tib le o f su c h a n u n d e rsta nd in g

. No th in g e lse in th e 19 9 0 le g isla tio n

—

in c lu din g its p re a m

b le

— su gg e sts in a n y wa y th a t th e G e n e ra l A sse m b ly th e n

in te nd e d to a lte r th e lim ita tio n th a t h a d b e e n a p a rt of th e sta tu te sin c e its

o r i g i n a l e n a c tm e nt in 1 9 6 5

. S e e id

. Alth o u g h c o m m e n ta ry on th e 1 9 9 0

a m e n d m e n t n o te s a

n u m b e r o f sig n ific a n t c h a n ge s wo rk e d b y th e a m e n d m e n t,

th e c o m m e n ta ry su g g e sts n o c o nte m p ora ry u n d e rsta n d in g th a t th e a m e n d m e n t

c h a n g e d th e sc o p e o f th e o b lig a tio n in so fu nd a m e n ta l a wa y

. S e e Mille r,

10 In 2 012, “as a m em

ber of the staf

f ” was changed to “as an em ploy e e of or volunteer

at. ” G a

. L. 2012, p. 928, § 5-1. This c hange coincided with r evisions of the statutory
def initions and i dentif

ications o f m andatory reporters, which resulted f o r the f irst tim e in certain volunteers being identif ied explicitly

as m a ndatory reporters.

1 6“ Co m

pre h e n siv e Ch ild Ab u se Le gisla tio n , ” 7 G a

. S t. U. L. Re v

. 2 6 8

, 27 2 -2 7 5

(F a ll 19 9 0 ). An d in a ny e v e n t, if th e Ge n e ra l Asse m b ly h a d in te n de d in 1 9 9 0 to

a b a n d o n th e p re su p p o se d lim ita tio n o f th e o b lig a tio n — an d th e re b y to

su b sta n tia lly e x p a n d th e sc o p e o f th e o b lig a tio n — su re ly it wo u ld h a ve d o n e so

b y a re v isio n o f p a ra g ra

p h (c ) (1 ), ra th e r th a n b y re writin g p a ra g ra p h (c ) (2 ) so

a s to m a k e le ss c le a r, b u t n o t e lim in a te , th e te x t th a t im p lie s su c h a

lim ita tio n

.

We n ote a s we ll th a t u n d e rsta n d in g th e sta tu to ry ob lig a tio n to re p o rt a s

o n e lim ite d to c h ild re n to wh o m th e re p o rte r a t t e n d s fits c o m fo rta b ly with

se ttle d p rin c ip le s o f th e c o m m o n la w. Th e Ge ne ra l Asse m b ly p ro p e rly c a n , o f

c o u rse , e n a c t le g isla tio n th a t d e p arts fro m th e c o m m o n la w, b u t to th e e xte n t th a t

sta tu to ry te x t c a

n be a s re a so n a

b ly un d e rsto o d to c o n fo rm t o th e c o m m o n la w

a s to d e p a rt fro m it, th e c o u r t s u s u a l ly p re su m e th a t th e le g isla tu re m e a n t to

a d h e re to th e c o m m o n la w. Se e Ea so n P u b lic a tio n s v

. A tla nta Ga z e tte

, In c ., 1 4 1

Ga

. Ap p. 32 1

, 3 2 4 (2 33 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) ( 1 97 7) (“ Wh e re th e re is lim ita tio n b y a

sta tu te wh ic h is c a

p a b le of m o re th a n o n e c o n stru c tio n , th e sta tu te m u st b e g iv e n

th a t c on stru c tio n wh ic h is c o n sist e n t with th e c o m m o n la w.” (Cita tio n a n d

p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d )). S e e a lso S c a lia & Ga rn e r, su p ra a t 3 1 8 (“ Th e b e tte r v ie w

is th a t sta tu te s w ill n o t b e in te rp re te d a s c ha n g in g th e c o m m o n la w un le ss th e y

1 7e ffe c t th e c h a n g e with c la rity .” ). As a g e n e ra l ru le a t c o m m o n la w, “ stra n g e rs

.

. . a re un d e r n o o b lig a tio n to k e e p wa tc h an d wa rd o ve r th e c h ild re n o f o th e rs.”

M a c on , Du b lin & S a v a

n n a h R. Co

. v

. Jo rd a n , 3 4 G a

. A p p

. 3 5 0

, 3 5 3 ( 1 2 9 S E

4 4 3 ) (1 9 2 5 ) (c ita tio n o m itte d ). A p e rso n , h o we v e r, wh o sta n d s in lo c o p a re n tis

o r o th e rwise u n d e rta k e s to a tte n d to a c h ild m a y owe a d u ty a t c om m o n la w to

e x e rc ise re a so n a

b le c a re fo r th e p ro te c tio n o f th e c h ild

. S e e Do e v

. An d u ja r, 2 9 7

Ga

. Ap p

. 6 9 6

, 69 7 -6 9 8 (1 ) (6 7 8 S E 2 d 1 6 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ A p e rso n wh o u n d e rta ke s

t o su p e rv ise a c h ild

, wh e th e r o r no t fo r c o m p e n sa tio n , h a s a du t y t o u s e

re a so na b le c a re to p ro te c t th e c h ild fro m in ju ry .” ). S e e a lso P e rsin g e r v

. S te p b y

S te p In fa n t De v. Ce n te r, 2 5 3 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 6 8, 7 69 (5 60 S E2 d 3 33 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (d u ty

o f d ay c a re c e n te r); Wa lla c e v

. Bo y s C lu b o f Alb a n y , Ga

., 2 1 1 G a

. Ap p

. 5 3 4

, 5 3 5

(1 ) (4 3 9 S E 2 d 74 6 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (d u ty o f su m m e r c a m p ). Lik e wise

, a s a g e n e ra l ru le

a t c o m m o n la w , o n e o we s n o d u ty to p ro te c t a n o th e r fro m in ju rie s in flic te d b y

a th ird p a rty

. Se e Wa lto n v

. UCC X, In c ., 2 8 2 Ga

. Ap p

. 8 47

, 8 48 -8 4 9 (1 ) (6 4 0

S E2 d 32 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Th e g e n e ra l ru le

, h owe v e r, d o e s n o t a lwa y s a p p ly wh e n o n e

h a s u n d e rta k e n a sp e c ia l re la t i o n sh ip with th e p e rso n e xp ose d to su c h in ju ry

.

S e e , e .g

. , City o f R o me v

. J o r d a n , 2 6 3 G a

. 2 6

, 2 8 (1 ) (4 2 6 S E2 d 8 6 1 ) (1 9 9 3 )

( d u ty o f m

u n ic ip a lity to p ro vid e p o lic e p ro te c tio n ). In so fa r a s th e p u rp o se o f

1 8OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 is to p ro te c t a b u se d c h ild re n fro m fu rth e r a b u se , se e OCGA §

1 9 -7 -5 (a ), u n d e rsta n d in g th e o b lig a tio n to re p o rt a s o n e lim ite d to c h ild re n to

wh o m th e m a nd a to ry re p o rte r a tte n d s is c on siste n t with th e g e n e ra l a p p ro a c h o f

th e c o m m o n la w.

In th is Co u rt, th e S ta te c o n c e d e s th a t th e o b lig a tio n to re p ort is lim ite d a n d

th a t th e re fe re n c e in OCGA § 1 9 -7 -5 (c ) (1 ) to “ a c h ild ” d o e s no t m e an lite ra lly

“ a n y c hild .” Bu t u n lik e Ma y , th e S ta te fa ils to p o in t to a m e an in gfu l lim ita tio n

th a t is g ro u n d e d in th e te x t, stru c tu re , h isto ry , a nd th e la w in th e b a c k g ro u n d o f

th e sta tu te . Co n sid e rin g th e wo rd s o f p a ra g ra p h (c ) (1 ) a n d th e ir le g a l c o n te x t,

th e sta tu to ry o b lig a tio n to re p o rt th e a b u s e o f a c h ild is m ost re a so n a b ly

u n d e r s to o d a s o n e lim ite d to th e a b u se o f a c hild to wh o m th e m a n d a to r y

re p o rte r “ a tte n d s

. . . p u rsu a n t to [h e r] d u tie s” in th e p ro fe ssio n , oc c u p a tio n ,

e m p lo y m e n t, o r v o lu n te e r wo rk b y wh ic h sh e is id e n tifie d in su b p a ra g ra p h s (c )

(1 ) (A)

- (O) a s a m a nd a to ry re p o rte r. T ha t is th e m e a n in g th a t we a ttrib ute to th e

sta tu te

. 1 1

11 W e do not rely in this case upon the rule of lenity

, see Haley v. S tate, 289 Ga. 515,

527 (2) (b) (712 SE2d 838) (2011), but we n ote that if it were applied here, it w ould lead us

to the sam e conclusion. W e also do not rely in this case u p o n t h e c anon o f constitutional doubt, see id. at 521-522 ( 2) (b), notwithstanding that O CGA § 19-7-5 m ay i nvite, as we have

said bef o re, “serious constitutional inquiry .” Gladson v. State, 2 5 8 G a. 885, 886 (4) (376

1 9Ha v in g id e n tifie d th e e x te n t o f th e sta tu to ry o b lig a tio n, we tu rn n o w to th e

fa c ts o f th is c a se , a s a lle g e d in th e a c c u sa tio n o r stip u la te d b e lo w. By th e tim e

Ma y le a rn e d of th e se xu a l a bu se , P

. M. n o lo n ge r wa s h e r stu d e nt, n o lo n g e r wa s

e n ro lle d in th e sc h o o l a t wh ic h Ma y ta u g h t, a nd n o lo ng e r wa s e n ro lle d a t a n y

sc h o o l in th e sa m e sc h o o l sy ste m . In th e se c irc u m sta n c e s, we c a n no t c o n c e iv e

a n y se t o f fa c ts b y wh ic h th e S ta te m ig h t p ro v e th a t M a y — w h e n sh e le a rn e d

o f th e se x u a l a

b u se

— wa s a tte n d in g to P

. M. p u rsu a n t to h e r d u tie s a s a sc h o o l

te a c h e r a t R iv e r Rid ge

. 1 2 Ac c o rd in g ly

, M a y h a d n o le g a l o b lig a tio n to re p o rt th e

se x u a l a b u se , 1 3 a n d th e tria l c o u rt e rre d wh e n it su sta in e d th e a c c usa tio n

.

Ju d g m e n t re ve rse d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

SE2d 362) ( 1989). Our understanding that the statutory obligation to report is l i mi t e d to
children to whom the m andatory reporter attends m ay relieve som e d oubts a b o ut the

constitu t i o n a l i ty of t he statute, but we do not undertake to resolve any constitutional questions today

.

12 In som e cases, w hether a school teacher attends to a c hild p ursuant to her duties as

a teacher m ay present a question of f a ct, s uch a s, f

or instance, when the c hild is not assigned

t o the class of the teacher, b ut the child is enrolled as a student at the sam e s c h o o l

. T h i s , however, is no such case.

13 That May was n ot legally obligated to report th e a b u se does not m ean, of course, that she was not m orally obligated to do s o. S ee McGarrah v. Posig, 280 Ga. A pp. 808, 810 (635 SE2d 219) (2006).

2 0