Religious Liberty in the States Safeguards

Clergy as Mandatory Reporters

Checkmarks below indicate the states that exempt clergy from mandatory reporting laws.

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State	Exception for Mandatory Reporting	Statute(s)	URL	Statute(s)
Alabama	● Clergy listed, exempt	§26-14-3(a), -(f)	https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-26/chapter-14/section-26-14-3/	§26-14-3(a), -(f)
Alaska	● Clergy not listed, no explicit exemption	§47.17.020(d)	https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#47.17.020	§47.17.020(d)
Arizona	● Clergy listed, exempt	§13-3620(A)	https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03620.htm	§13-3620(A)
Arkansas	● Clergy listed, exempt	§12-18-402(b)(29)(a), -803(b)	https://casetext.com/statute/arkansas-code-of-1987/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/section-12-18-402-mandated-reporters? ; https://casetext.com/statute/arkansas-code-of-1987/title-12-law-enforcement-emergency-management-and-military-affairs/subtitle-2-law-enforcement-agencies-and-programs/chapter-18-child-maltreatment-act/subchapter-8-administrative-hearings/section-12-18-803-privileged-communications-as-evidence-exception?	§12-18-402(b)(29)(a), -803(b)
California	● Clergy listed, exempt	PEN §11166(d)(1), §11165.7(a)(32)	https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=11166; https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=11165.7	PEN §11166(d)(1), §11165.7(a)(32)
Colorado	● Clergy listed, exempt	§19-3-304(2)(aa), §13-90-107(1)(c)	https://casetext.com/statute/colorado-revised-statutes/title-19-childrens-code/article-3-dependency-and-neglect/part-3-child-abuse-or-neglect/section-19-3-304-persons-required-to-report-child-abuse-or-neglect?; https://casetext.com/statute/colorado-revised-statutes/title-13-courts-and-court-procedure/witnesses/article-90-witnesses/part-1-general-provisions/section-13-90-107-who-may-not-testify-without-consent-definitions?	§19-3-304(2)(aa), §13-90-107(1)(c)
Connecticut	○ Clergy listed, not exempt	§17a-101(b)(18)	https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_319a.htm#sec_17a-101	§17a-101(b)(18)
Delaware	● Any person, clergy exempt	16 §§ 903, §909	https://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c009/sc01/index.html#909	16 §§ 903, §909
Florida	● Any person, clergy exempt	§39.201, -.204, §90.505	http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=mandatory+report&URL=0000-0099/0039/Sections/0039.201.html; http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0039/Sections/0039.204.html; http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0090/Sections/0090.505.html	§39.201, -.204, §90.505
Georgia	● Clergy listed, exempt	§ 19-7-5(g)	https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-19/chapter-7/article-1/section-19-7-5/	§ 19-7-5(g)
Hawaii	● Clergy listed, exempt	§350-1.1(a)(10)	https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0350/HRS_0350-0001_0001.htm	§350-1.1(a)(10)
Idaho	● Any person, clergy exempt	§16-1605(3)	https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title16/T16CH16/SECT16-1605/	§16-1605(3)
Illinois	● Clergy listed, exempt	735 ILCS 5/8-803; 325 ILCS 5/4(a)(9), -(g)	https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=073500050HArt%2E+VIII+Pt%2E+8&ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=56800000&SeqEnd=57675000; https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=032500050K4	735 ILCS 5/8-803; 325 ILCS 5/4(a)(9), -(g)
Indiana	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	31-33-5-1, 34-46-3-1	https://iga.in.gov/laws/2024/ic/titles/31#31-33-5-1; https://iga.in.gov/laws/2024/ic/titles/34#34-46-3-1	31-33-5-1, 34-46-3-1
Iowa	● Clergy not listed, no explicit exemption	§232.69	https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-iowa/title-vi-human-services/chapter-232-juvenile-justice/subchapter-iii-child-in-need-of-assistance-proceedings/part-2-child-abuse-reporting-assessment-and-rehabilitation/section-23269-mandatory-and-permissive-reporters-training-required?	§232.69
Kansas	● Clergy not listed, no explicit exemption	38-2223	http://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch38/038_022_0023.html	38-2223
Kentucky	● Any person, clergy exempt	620.030(1), -(5)	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=53977	620.030(1), -(5)
Louisiana	● Clergy listed, exempt	La. CH. C. Art. 603(17)(b)-(c)	https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=73195	La. CH. C. Art. 603(17)(b)-(c)
Maine	● Clergy listed, exempt	22 §4011-A(1)(A)(27)	https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/22/title22sec4011-A.html	22 §4011-A(1)(A)(27)
Maryland	● Any person, clergy exempt	FAM §5-705(a)(1), -(3)	https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-maryland/article-family-law/title-5-children/subtitle-7-child-abuse-and-neglect/section-5-705-reporting-of-abuse-or-neglect-by-other-persons?	FAM §5-705(a)(1), -(3)
Massachusetts	● Clergy listed, exempt	ALM GL ch. 119, §§ 51A(j), 21	https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVII/Chapter119/Section51A	ALM GL ch. 119, §§ 51A(j), 21
Michigan	● Clergy listed, exempt	§722.623(1)(a), -.631	https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-722-623; https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(kkakbj5sb5uokqhbvhdvcbp2))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-722-631	§722.623(1)(a), -.631
Minnesota	● Clergy listed, exempt	§260E.06(1)(a)(2)	https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/260E.06	§260E.06(1)(a)(2)
Mississippi	○ Clergy listed, not exempt	§43-21-353(1), -(3)	https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-43/chapter-21/intake/section-43-21-353/	§43-21-353(1), -(3)
Missouri	● Clergy listed, exempt	§210.140, -.115(1), §352.400(2)	https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=210.140&bid=11309&hl=; https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=210.115&bid=49904&hl=; https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=352.400	§210.140, -.115(1), §352.400(2)
Montana	● Clergy listed, exempt	41-3-201(2)(h), -(6)(b)	https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0410/chapter_0030/part_0020/section_0010/0410-0030-0020-0010.html	41-3-201(2)(h), -(6)(b)
Nebraska	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	§28-711, -707(2), §27-506	https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-711	§28-711, -707(2), §27-506
Nevada	● Clergy listed, exempt	§432.220(4)(d)	https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-432b.html#NRS432BSec220	§432.220(4)(d)
New Hampshire	○ Clergy listed, not exempt	12 §169-C:32, -29	https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XII/169-C/169-C-32.htm	12 §169-C:32, -29
New Jersey	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	9:6-8.10	https://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/nxt/gateway.dll/statutes%2F1%2F7044%2F7144	9:6-8.10
New Mexico	● Clergy listed, exempt	32A-4-3.A, N.M. R. Evid. 11-506	https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/item/4389/index.do#!b/32A-4-3	32A-4-3.A, N.M. R. Evid. 11-506
New York	● Clergy not listed, no explicit exemption	SOS §413	https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SOS/413	SOS §413
North Carolina	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	§7B-310, -301(a)	https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7B/GS_7B-310.html	§7B-310, -301(a)
North Dakota	● Clergy listed, exempt	§50-25.1-03(1)	https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t50c25-1.pdf#page=4	§50-25.1-03(1)
Ohio	● Clergy listed, exempt	§2151.421(4)(a)-(e)	https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2151.421	§2151.421(4)(a)-(e)
Oklahoma	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	10A §1-2-101.B.1, -.4	https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=455989	10A §1-2-101.B.1, -.4
Oregon	● Clergy listed, exempt	§419B.010(1), -.005(5)(h)	https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors419B.html	§419B.010(1), -.005(5)(h)
Pennsylvania	● Clergy listed, exempt	23 §6311.1(b)(1), §6311(a)(6)	https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=23&div=0&chpt=63&sctn=11&subsctn=1	23 §6311.1(b)(1), §6311(a)(6)
Rhode Island	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	§40-11-11, -3(a)	http://webserver.rilegislature.gov//Statutes/TITLE40/40-11/40-11-11.htm	§40-11-11, -3(a)
South Carolina	● Clergy listed, exempt	§63-7-420, -310(A)	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t63c007.php	§63-7-420, -310(A)
South Dakota	● Clergy not listed, no explicit exemption	§26-8A-3	https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2050731	§26-8A-3
Tennessee	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	§37-1-403, -605(a)	Tennessee Code § 37-1-403 (2023) - Reporting of brutality, abuse, neglect or child sexual abuse - Notification to parents of abuse on school grounds or under school supervision - Confidentiality of records :: 2023 Tennessee Code :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia	Tennessee Code § 37-1-403 (2023) - Reporting of brutality, abuse, neglect or child sexual abuse - Notification to parents of abuse on school grounds or under school supervision - Confidentiality of records :: 2023 Tennessee Code :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia\|\|§37-1-403, -605(a)
Texas	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	FAM §261.101(a), -(c)	https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.261.htm#261.101	FAM §261.101(a), -(c)
Utah	● Clergy listed, exempt	§80-2-602(3)-(4)	https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title80/Chapter2/80-2-S602.html?v=C80-2-S602_2022050420220901	§80-2-602(3)-(4)
Vermont	● Clergy listed, exempt	33 §4913(a)(12), -(j), -(k)	https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/33/049/04913	33 §4913(a)(12), -(j), -(k)
Virginia	● Clergy listed, exempt	§63.2-1509(19)	https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title63.2/chapter15/section63.2-1509/	§63.2-1509(19)
Washington	● Clergy not listed, no explicit exemption	§26.44.030(1)(b), -.060(3)	https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.44.030	§26.44.030(1)(b), -.060(3)
West Virginia	○ Clergy listed, not exempt	§49-2-811, -803	https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49-2-811/	§49-2-811, -803
Wisconsin	● Clergy listed, exempt	§48.981(2)(bm)(3)	https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/48.981(2)(bm)3.	§48.981(2)(bm)(3)
Wyoming	○ Any person, clergy not exempt	§14-3-205(a)	Section 14-3-205 - Child abuse or neglect; persons required to report, Wyo. Stat. § 14-3-205 \| Casetext Search + Citator	§14-3-205(a)

Note on citations:
Due to changes in online law databases and states’ websites, we cannot ensure that every link to a state law will be functional in perpetuity. If a link to a statute is no longer functional, please use a search engine to locate the state’s code and use the citation number to manually navigate to the relevant law. Where multiple laws are cited, the link is for the first law listed. For more information on citations, download the full data set which includes additional research notes.

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