Child abuse: mandated reporters: talent agents, managers, and coaches.

Assembly Members Lackey and Blanca Rubio have proposed legislation to designate talent agents, managers, and coaches who work with minors as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect under California law. The Child Abuse Mandated Entertainment Reporter Act (CAMERA) adds these entertainment industry professionals to the existing list of individuals required to report known or reasonably suspected cases of child abuse.

The bill defines three new categories of mandated reporters: talent agents who procure employment for artists, talent managers who guide performers' careers, and talent coaches who develop entertainment industry skills such as acting, voice, or dialogue coaching. These professionals must report suspected abuse when providing services to minors, with failure to report constituting a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

While the legislation encourages employers to provide training on identifying and reporting child abuse, lack of training does not exempt these newly designated reporters from their legal obligations. The measure aligns with existing state law requiring various professionals who interact with children to report suspected abuse, from teachers and healthcare providers to youth sports coaches and child care workers.