This phone number will soon be on every school bathroom wall...

Putting a phone number on the wall of a school bathroom used to be a no-no. Now, it’s required.

Missouri legislation approved earlier this year — and signed into law by Gov. Jay Nixon — mandates public schools post the state’s child abuse and neglect hotline number in every student restroom.

Under the law, schools must also post the number on a sign, written in English and Spanish “in a clearly visible location in a public area of the school.” The law takes effect Aug. 28.

“We want to make sure children have a way to contact the appropriate individuals to let them know what is happening to them,” said State Rep. Diane Franklin, a Republican from Camdenton who sponsored the House version of Senate Bill 341. “Usually, the way this unfolds in a child’s life is that they begin to express what is happening to them to a teacher, a counselor. We wanted to give them an additional way.”

The hotline, established by the Children’s Division, accepts confidential reports of suspected child abuse, neglect or exploitation. The hotline is answered seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Franklin said she hopes children see the hotline number as an extension of 911, a number that can be called when immediate help is needed.

“It helps them conceptualize that what is happening to them is an emergency,” she said. “They do need to call to get help.”

Members of certain occupational groups — such as teachers, social workers and physicians — are mandated by law to report any suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation to the hotline and must give their names.

Others who are not mandated reporters are allowed to make a report anonymously.

The law also requires the Children’s Division to develop an acronym to help children remember the toll-free hotline number, which is 1-800-392-3738. Those calling from outside Missouri are asked to dial 573-751-3448.

Franklin said the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to check with districts in the coming weeks to make sure they are complying with the new law.

Parker McKenna, chief human resources officer for Springfield Public Schools, said the district will comply with the new law. “SPS is supportive of any measures which increase the likelihood that a victim of child abuse or neglect will report that abuse,” he said.

The law, signed by Nixon in early July, was fairly new when the News-Leader asked McKenna about compliance. He reached out to the district’s attorney and the Missouri School Boards Association before replying.

“It is my understanding that MSBA is working to develop sample posters for districts to use in order to ensure compliance,” he said. He did not yet have an estimate what the posters would cost the district.

Other than student bathrooms, each Springfield school building will have leeway in deciding where the posters are placed.

Other aspects of the law include:

•Gives the Children’s Division more authority to respond to claims of child-on-child abuse. Previously, it had limited authority to investigate alleged perpetrators under age 14.

•Requires licensed day cares, caring for children less than a year old, to adopt “safe sleep” practices aimed at preventing sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.

•Allows the victims of sexual assault to ask for a personal protection order against their alleged attackers.

•Mandates child care facilities, including day cares, preschools and nurseries, to inform parents — if those parents ask — if other children enrolled in the same facility have been exempted from immunization requirements.