# 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311.1: Privileged communications

> Pennsylvania · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6311.1

## Section

- **Citation:** 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311.1
- **Heading:** Privileged communications
- **Jurisdiction:** Pennsylvania
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Pennsylvania Code / Title 23 / Chapter 63 / Section 6311.1

## Text

(a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (b), the privileged communications between a mandated reporter and a patient or client of the mandated reporter shall not:

(1) Apply to a situation involving child abuse.

(2) Relieve the mandated reporter of the duty to make a report of suspected child abuse.

(b) Confidential communications.--The following protections shall apply:

(1) Confidential communications made to a member of the clergy are protected under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943 (relating to confidential communications to clergymen).

(2) Confidential communications made to an attorney are protected so long as they are within the scope of 42 Pa.C.S.

§§ 5916 (relating to confidential communications to attorney) and 5928 (relating to confidential communications to attorney), the attorney work product doctrine or the rules of professional conduct for attorneys. (Apr. 15, 2014, P.L.414, No.32, eff. 60 days) 2014 Amendment. Act 32 added section 6311.1. Effective Date. Section 17 of Act 45 of 2014 provided that, notwithstanding section 4 of Act 32 of 2014, section 6311.1 shall take effect December 31, 2014.

## Nearby sections

- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6301 Short title of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6301.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6302 Findings and purpose of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6302.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6303 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6303.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6304 Exclusions from child abuse.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6304.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6305 Electronic reporting.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6305.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6306 Regulations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6306.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6311 Persons required to report suspected child abuse.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6311.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6311.1 Privileged communications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6311.1.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6312 Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6312.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6313 Reporting procedure.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6313.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6314 Photographs, medical tests and X-rays of child subject to report.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6314.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6315 Taking child into protective custody.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6315.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6316 Admission to private and public hospitals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6316.md)
- [23 Pa.C.S. § 6317 Mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6317.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T23_C63_S6311.1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.