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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 14, 2013 12:43 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kevin J. Boyle |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Reporting Suspected Child Abuse: Re-Introduction of HB1990 |
| MEMORANDUM TO: All House Members FROM: Representative Kevin Boyle DATE: January 14, 2013 SUBJECT: Reporting Suspected Child Abuse Re-introduction of HB1990 In the near future I will be reintroducing legislation amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to expand the list of persons required to report suspected child abuse and to increase the grading and penalties for failure to report or refer suspected child abuse. In the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, and in light of similar abuse cases across the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation to convene a Task Force on Child Protection whose task was to examine ways in which we can strengthen and modernize our laws governing child abuse. One of the recommendations included in the panel’s final report was to expand the list of persons who are required to report suspected abuse in Pennsylvania. My legislation, which I introduced as former House Bill 1990 last session, also addresses this goal by amending Section 6311 to include school staff members, school faculty and coaches as mandatory reporters under our law. In addition, my legislation would require staff members of public or private institutions, including schools, facilities or agencies, to report directly to a law enforcement official and to an agent of the child protective services system. Under current law, a mandatory reporter who is a staff member at an institution reports to the person in charge of that institution. Finally, my legislation increases the grading for failure to report or refer suspected child abuse from a third-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. Subsequent violations would be raised from a second-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree felony. It is our responsibility to provide the children and parents of the Commonwealth the best possible laws and protection. My proposal to require reporting of suspected child abuse would achieve this goal. Please join me in this fight by co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB673