Reporting requirements operate independently of the privilege and this exception. Mediators and other are not precluded by the Act from reporting misconduct to an agency or tribunal other than one that might make a ruling on the dispute being mediated, which is precluded by Section 8(a) and (b).

8. Section 6(a)(7). Evidence of abuse or neglect.

An exception for child abuse and neglect is common in domestic mediation confidentiality statutes, and the Act reaffirms these important policy choices States have made to protect their citizens. See, e.g., Iowa. Code Ann. Section 679c.3(4) (1998) (general); Kan. Stat. Ann. Section 23-605(b)(2) (1999) (domestic relations); Kan. Stat. Ann. Section 38-1522(a) (1997) (general); Kan. Stat. Ann. Section 44-817 )(2) (1996) (labor); Kan. Stat. Ann. Section 72-5427(e)(2) (1996) (teachers); Kan. Stat. Ann. Section 75-4332(d)(1) (1996) (public employment); Minn. Stat. Ann. Section 595.02(2)(a)(5) (1996) (general); Mont. Code Ann. Section 41-3-404 (1999) (child abuse investigations) (mediator may not be compelled to testify); Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 43-2908 (1993) (parenting act) (in camera); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Section 328-C:9(III)(c ) (1998) (marital); N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 7A-38.1(L) (1999) (superior court); N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 7A-38.4(K) (1999) (district courts); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Section 3109.052(c) (West 1990) (child custody); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Section 5123.601 (West 1988) (mental retardation); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Section 2317.02 (1998) (general); Or. Rev. Stat. Section 36.220(5) (1997) (general); Tenn. Code Ann. Section 36-4- 130(b)(5) (1993) (divorce); Utah Code Ann. Section 30-3-38(4) (2000) (divorce) (mediator shall report); Va. Code Ann. Section 63.1-248.3(A)(10) (2000) (welfare); Wis. Stat. Section 48.981(2) (1997) (social services): Wis. Stat. Section 904.085(4)(d) (1997) (general); Wyo. Stat. Section 1-43- 103(c)(iii) (1991) (general). But see Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. Section 8-807(B) (West 1998) (child abuse investigations) (rejecting rule of disclosure).

By referring to "child and adult protective services agency," the exception broadens the coverage to include the elderly and disabled if that State has protected them by statute and has created an agency enforcement process. It should be stressed that this exception applies only to permit disclosures in public