House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 28, 2013 04:23 PM
From:	Representative Katharine M. Watson and Rep. Ryan P. Aument, Rep. Mauree Gingrich, Rep. David M. Maloney, Sr., Rep. Dan Moul, Rep. Todd Stephens
To:	All House members
Subject:	Child Protection Package

As you know, during the previous legislative session, the General Assembly created the Task Force on Child Protection to conduct a comprehensive review of the Commonwealth’s response to child abuse and to recommend improvements to our system of child protection in Pennsylvania. The Task Force has released its report and recommendations, and it is now time for the General Assembly to take action. To this end, several of my colleagues and I are introducing legislation to address a number of the deficiencies identified by the Task Force.

To be clear, this is a preliminary package. These bills are first steps on the long road to improving protection for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. There will be other issues we must address, and there will be additional legislation to consider. With that in mind, I invite you to join us by cosponsoring this important package of bills which contains:

Document #1

Introduced as HB430

Description:	Description 1 Rep. Katharine Watson - legislation that will improve the procedures for reporting child abuse in Pennsylvania. This bill will eliminate chain-of-command reporting within organizations and institutions, allow for internet and email reporting, and institute a cross reporting requirement to ensure that reports of suspected child abuse are sent to the proper authorities.
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Document #2

Introduced as HB429

Description:	Description 2 Rep. Katharine Watson - legislation to expand protections from employment discrimination to any person who makes a good faith report of suspected child abuse. Currently mandated reporters of child abuse are protected, but my bill will extend this important protection to permissive reporters as well.
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Document #3

Introduced as HB436

Description:	Description 3 Rep. Todd Stephens - legislation that will expand and clarify the list of mandated reporters of child abuse. This bill will also clarify a mandated reporter’s basis to report child abuse and enhance the penalty scheme for those who fail in this obligation.
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Document #4

Introduced as HB432

Description:	Description 4 Rep. Mauree Gingrich - legislation to require child abuse recognition and reporting training for mandated reporters under the jurisdiction of a Commonwealth agency.
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Document #5

Introduced as HB431

Description:	Description 5 Rep. Mauree Gingrich – legislation that would amend the Child Protective Services Law to require that licensing boards issue regulations to require that licensees who are mandated reporters of child abuse be trained on child abuse recognition and reporting.
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Document #6

Introduced as HB435

Description:	Description 6 Rep. Dan Moul - legislation to expand and enhance background clearance requirements for those who work with children or volunteer in a role where they supervise children. This bill will expand the scope of those required to receive background clearances, require that clearances be renewed every 24 months, and require employees and volunteers to disclose arrests and convictions that would affect their ability to work or volunteer with children.
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Document #7

Introduced as HB434

Description:	Description 7 Rep. David Maloney - legislation to remove the separate standards and procedures that exist for school employees accused of abusing a student. This bill will ensure that school employees are subject to the same investigations and held to the same standards as parents, child care workers and other perpetrators of child abuse.
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Document #8

Introduced as HB433

Description:	Description 8 Rep. Ryan Aument – legislation to provide for additional safeguards and due process with respect to the outcome of a child abuse investigation. This bill will require that the county Children and Youth Agency director and solicitor approve indicated reports of child abuse and provide a specific timeline for appeals of the outcome of a child abuse investigation.
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