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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 15, 2013 09:36 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Bryan Cutler |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | False Reporting of Child Abuse |
| I am introducing a bill which will fulfill a recommendation of the Task Force on Child Protection. As you know, the Task Force on Child Protection was established last session through House Resolution 522. The resolution was sponsored by the two chairmen of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Ronald Marsico and Rep. Thomas Caltagirone. The Task Force on Child Protection was directed by the House of Representatives to review and analyze the practices, processes and procedures related to reporting child abuse. Further, the task force was directed by the House to review and analyze the body of law regarding child abuse and to make recommendations for changes to that body of law. The House set a deadline of November 30, 2012, with respect to the task force issuing its written report. In its 400-plus page report, the Task Force on Child Protection recommended changes to the primary mechanism for reporting and investigating child abuse, the Child Protective Services Law. In addition, the task force recommended changes to the Crimes Code, the Domestic Relations Code, and the Protection From Abuse Act. From a legal perspective, conforming amendments are needed in the Crimes Code, the Domestic Relations Code and the Protection From Abuse Act so that the body of law affecting child abuse is workable and will enhance the protection of children. The bill I sponsor is a piece one such piece, an amendment to the Crimes Code. Specifically, it adds a section 4906.1 to Title 18, entitled False Reports of Child Abuse. The legislation provides that a person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if the person knowingly or intentionally makes a false report of child abuse or induces a child to make a false report of child abuse, for any of the following purposes: (1) to harass or harm another; (2) for financial gain; (3) in order to leverage the report to the person’s advantage in a custody case; or (4) to gain some other type of personal benefit. |
Introduced as HB1045