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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 29, 2015 04:00 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ron Marsico |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation to bring Pennsylvania into compliance with the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The purpose of the act is to help states develop methods to identify and determine appropriate responses to children involved in the child welfare system who are either victims of sex trafficking or who are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking. For example, under the act, child welfare agencies must report to law enforcement information about foster children who are victims of sex trafficking or who are at risk of becoming such victims. Similarly, the county agency must also notify law enforcement if a foster child is missing from the home or is abducted. Law enforcement must notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The federal law also requires changes to the way in which permanency hearings are conducted under the Juvenile Act. The designation of Another Permanent Planned Living Arrangement - - which is a designation indicating no permanent home has been found - - has been eliminated for children under 16. In the case of foster children 16 and 17 years of age, a heightened level of case management review by the juvenile court is required. Part of the review includes the court’s inquiring about efforts on the part of the county agency to find a fit and willing relative for the child, as well as the child’s desired permanency goal. According to the Department of Human Services, the Commonwealth risks losing a portion of our federal foster care appropriation if the General Assembly fails to enact these provisions. Please join me in sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB1691