Mandatory Reporting and PA Act 153

Every member of the Carnegie Mellon University community has an ethical and legal obligation to immediately report instances or suspected instances of child abuse or any other inappropriate interactions with minors who are under the university’s care, supervision, guidance or training. 

Under Pennsylvania Act 153 of 2014, all university employees are Mandatory Reporters of child abuse.  In addition, individuals serving as volunteers for Carnegie Mellon who are responsible for the welfare of a minor or who have direct contact with minors are also Mandatory Reporters of child abuse.

How to File a Mandatory Report

Pennsylvania law requires Mandatory Reporters to submit reports of abuse both externally (to the PA Dept. of Human Services) and internally (to CMU). A Mandatory Reporter does not discharge the legal obligation to report unless both reports are filed.

• External reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services may be submitted:
  • By telephone via the Childline Hotline at 1-800-932-0313, or
  • Electronically via www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
• Internal reports to Carnegie Mellon University may be submitted:
  • To your supervisor
  • To the Carnegie Mellon University Police at 412-268-2323
  • To the Office of the General Counsel at 412-268-7367

When to File a Mandatory Report

A Mandatory Reporter must immediately file a report if he/she has reasonable cause to suspect that a minor is the victim of child abuse in the following circumstances:

• The Mandatory Reporter comes into contact with the minor in the course of employment, occupation and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity or service;
• The Mandatory Reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of the minor, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of a minor;
• A person makes a specific disclosure to the Mandatory Reporter that an identifiable minor is the victim of child abuse;
• An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to Mandatory Reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.