AR Code § 12-18-402 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 12 - Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs|Subtitle 2 - Law Enforcement Agencies and Programs|Chapter 18 - Child Maltreatment Act|Subchapter 4 - Reporting Suspected Child Maltreatment|§ 12-18-402. Mandated reporters

 (a) An individual listed as a mandated reporter under subsection (b) of this section shall immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline if he or she:  (1) Has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has:  (A) Been subjected to child maltreatment;  (B) Died as a result of child maltreatment; or  (C) Died suddenly and unexpectedly; or    (2) Observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in child maltreatment.    (b) The following individuals are mandated reporters under this chapter:  (1) A child care worker or foster care worker;  (2) A coroner;  (3) A day care center worker;  (4) A dentist;  (5) A dental hygienist;  (6) A domestic abuse advocate;  (7) A domestic violence shelter employee;  (8) A domestic violence shelter volunteer;  (9) An employee of the Department of Human Services;  (10) An employee working under contract for, or a contractor of, the Department of Human Services when acting within the scope of his or her contract or employment;  (11) A foster parent;  (12) A judge;  (13) A law enforcement official;  (14) A licensed nurse;  (15) Medical personnel who may be engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons;  (16) A mental health professional or paraprofessional;  (17) An osteopath;  (18) A peace officer;  (19) A physician;  (20) A prosecuting attorney;  (21) A resident intern;  (22) A public or private school counselor;  (23) A school official, including without limitation institutions of higher education;  (24) A social worker;  (25) A surgeon;  (26) A teacher;  (27) A court-appointed special advocate program staff member or volunteer;  (28) A juvenile intake or probation officer;  (29) A clergy member, which includes a minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed to be so by the person consulting him or her, except to the extent the clergy member:  (A) Has acquired knowledge of suspected child maltreatment through communications required to be kept confidential pursuant to the religious discipline of the relevant denomination or faith; or  (B) Received the knowledge of the suspected child maltreatment from the alleged offender in the context of a statement of admission;    (30) An employee of a child advocacy center or a child safety center;  (31) An attorney ad litem in the course of his or her duties as an attorney ad litem;  (32)  (A) A sexual abuse advocate or sexual abuse volunteer who works with a victim of sexual abuse as an employee of a community-based victim service or mental health agency such as Safe Places, United Family Services, Inc., or Centers for Youth and Families.  (B) A sexual abuse advocate or sexual abuse volunteer includes a paid or volunteer sexual abuse advocate who is based with a local law enforcement agency;    (33) A rape crisis advocate or rape crisis volunteer;  (34)  (A) A child abuse advocate or child abuse volunteer who works with a child victim of abuse or maltreatment as an employee of a community-based victim service or a mental health agency such as Safe Places, United Family Services, Inc., or Centers for Youth and Families.  (B) A child abuse advocate or child abuse volunteer includes a paid or volunteer sexual abuse advocate who is based with a local law enforcement agency;    (35) A victim/witness coordinator;  (36) A victim assistance professional or victim assistance volunteer;  (37) An employee of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police;  (38) An employee of a reproductive healthcare facility;  (39) A volunteer at a reproductive healthcare facility;  (40) An individual not otherwise identified in this subsection who is engaged in performing his or her employment duties with a nonprofit charitable organization other than a nonprofit hospital; and  (41) A Child Welfare Ombudsman.    (c)  (1) A privilege or contract shall not prevent a person from reporting child maltreatment when he or she is a mandated reporter and required to report under this section.  (2) An employer or supervisor of an employee identified as a mandated reporter shall not prohibit an employee or a volunteer from directly reporting child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline.  (3) An employer or supervisor of an employee identified as a mandated reporter shall not require an employee or a volunteer to obtain permission or notify any person, including an employee or a supervisor, before reporting child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline.    (d) A mandated reporter who in good faith notifies the Child Abuse Hotline in accordance with subsection (a) of this section is immune from civil and criminal liability.