Section 11163 Of Article 2. Reports Of Injuries From California Penal Code >> Title 1. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.
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. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that even though the
Legislature has provided for immunity from liability, pursuant to
Section 11161.9, for persons required or authorized to report
pursuant to this article, that immunity does not eliminate the
possibility that actions may be brought against those persons based
upon required reports of abuse pursuant to other laws.
In order to further limit the financial hardship that those
persons may incur as a result of fulfilling their legal
responsibility, it is necessary that they not be unfairly burdened by
legal fees incurred in defending those actions.
(b) (1) Therefore, a health practitioner may present a claim to
the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for
reasonable attorney's fees incurred in any action against that person
on the basis of that person reporting in accordance with this
article if the court dismisses the action upon a demurrer or motion
for summary judgment made by that person or if that person prevails
in the action.
(2) The California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
shall allow the claim pursuant to paragraph (1) if the requirements
of paragraph (1) are met, and the claim shall be paid from an
appropriation to be made for that purpose. Attorney's fees awarded
pursuant to this section shall not exceed an hourly rate greater than
the rate charged by the Attorney General at the time the award is
made and shall not exceed an aggregate amount of fifty thousand
dollars ($50,000).
(3) This subdivision shall not apply if a public entity has
provided for the defense of the action pursuant to Section 995 of the
Government Code.