PRINTER'S NO.  2876

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

522

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY MARSICO AND CALTAGIRONE, DECEMBER 12, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, DECEMBER 12, 2011  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Establishing the Task Force on Child Protection.

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WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

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(1)  Recent events require a review of laws and

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procedures relating to the reporting of child abuse and the

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protection of the health and safety of children.

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(2)  A review of these laws and procedures will help to

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ensure that the Commonwealth is able to adequately protect

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its children.

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(3)  It is the responsibility of the Commonwealth to

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protect its citizens, particularly children.

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(4)  Therefore, the General Assembly shall establish a

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task force to conduct a thorough and comprehensive review to:

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(i)  ascertain any inadequacies relating to the

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mandatory reporting of child abuse; and

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(ii)  restore public confidence in the ability of the

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Commonwealth to protect the victims of child abuse;

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therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Child Protection be

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established; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the task force consist of the following

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members, appointed within 25 days after the adoption of this

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resolution by both chambers:

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(1)  Six members knowledgeable and experienced in issues

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relating to child abuse or providing services to victims of

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child abuse as follows:

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(i)  Three members appointed by the President pro

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tempore of the Senate, in consultation with the Majority

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Leader and the Minority Leader of the Senate. A member

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under this subparagraph may be a member of the Senate.

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(ii)  Three members appointed by the Speaker of the

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House of Representatives, in consultation with the

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Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the House of

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Representatives. A member under this subparagraph may be

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a member of the House of Representatives.

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(2)  Four members appointed by the Governor as follows:

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(i)  One member shall be a member of the general

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public.

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(ii)  One member shall be a member of a victim

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organization or a children and youth services

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organization who is directly involved in providing

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services to victims of child abuse.

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(iii)  One member experienced in the operation and

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interaction between a county children and youth agency

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and the Commonwealth.

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(iv)  A district attorney.

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(3)  The Secretary of Public Welfare or a designee who

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shall be an employee of the department. The designee shall be

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appointed in writing, and a copy shall be submitted to the

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chairman of the task force;

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and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the Governor select the chairperson of the

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task force; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the task force conduct its business as

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follows:

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(1)  The physical presence of six members constitutes a

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quorum of the task force.

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(2)  Action of the task force shall be authorized or

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ratified by majority vote of its members.

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(3)  A member not physically present may participate by

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teleconference or video conference.

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(4)  The following shall apply:

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(i)  The task force shall meet as necessary but no

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fewer than five times prior to September 30, 2012.

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Additional meetings may be called by the chairperson as

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necessary.

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(ii)  The chairperson shall schedule a meeting upon

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written request of eight members of the task force.

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(iii)  The first meeting shall be convened within 45

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days.

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(iv)  The task force shall hold public hearings as

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necessary to obtain the information required to conduct

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its review.

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(v)  The Department of Public Welfare, the Joint

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State Government Commission and the Juvenile Courts

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Judges' Commission shall cooperate to provide

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administrative or other assistance to the task force.

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(vi)  Members shall not receive compensation but

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shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses

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incurred in service of the task force;

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and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the task force have the following powers:

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(1)  To examine and analyze the practices, processes and

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procedures relating to the response to child abuse.

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(2)  To review and analyze law, procedures, practices and

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rules relating to the reporting of child abuse.

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(3)  To hold public hearings for the taking of testimony

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and the requesting of documents.

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(4)  The chairperson shall have the power to administer

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oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the task

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force;

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and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the task force have the following duties:

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(1)  To accept and review written comments from

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individuals and organizations.

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(2)  To make, by November 30, 2012, a final report to the

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Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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(3)  Based on its review, the report under paragraph (2)

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shall include recommendations:

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(i)  To improve the reporting of child abuse.

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(ii)  To implement any necessary changes in State

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statutes and practices, policies and procedures relating

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to child abuse.

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(iii)  To train appropriate individuals in the

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reporting of child abuse.

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(4)  To make reports as follows:

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(i)  The task force may file status reports and

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updates with the Governor and the Senate and the House of

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Representatives as it deems appropriate.

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(ii)  A report under this paragraph shall be adopted

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at a public meeting.

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(iii)  A report under this paragraph shall be a

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public record under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6,

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No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law;

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and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the task force expire December 31, 2012.

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