State House Considering Child Protection Laws This Week

The Kittanning Paper
April 9, 2013

http://www.kittanningpaper.com/2013/04/09/state-house-considering-child-protection-laws-this-week/35428

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which aims to increase public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children. In the wake of the Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal, the House has taken up the call to strengthen Pennsylvania’s child protection laws.

Two bills recommended by the Task Force on Child Protection are scheduled for a vote by the full House next week. House Bill 90 (introduced by Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Washington/Allegheny counties) authorizes an administrative subpoena, from the attorney general or a district attorney, to obtain the IP address and the name, address and phone number of the subscriber in child sex exploitation cases. Investigators would need a search warrant issued by the court to obtain additional information or view anything on the person’s computer. The legislation basically mirrors federal law but is more restrictive.

House Bill 429 (introduced by Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks County) aims to protect a person who makes a good faith report of child abuse from retaliation or discrimination in the workplace.  The bill is intended to remove that potential barrier which could keep some people from reporting suspected child abuse.  It is also intended to provide recourse for those who do make a good faith report and suffer consequences at work as a result.

The House Children and Youth Committee also voted on two bills Tuesday:  House Bills 431 and 432 (introduced by Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon County). While these two bills are not based directly on the task force recommendations, they further the principle of the recommendation for required training for mandated reporters of child abuse. Many mandated reporters are never properly trained on their legal obligation to report suspected abuse, yet they can be charged criminally if they fail to report as required.