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	Taft Signs Bill Requiring Clergy to Report Abuse The Associated Press, carried in The Beacon Journal May 2, 2006 http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/14482983.htm COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Bob Taft on Tuesday signed into law a bill that adds the state's clergy to professions required to report suspected sexual abuse. The law also extends the time for victims of abuse by clergy to file lawsuits, although supporters were disappointed that lawmakers removed a provision that would have opened a one-year window for past victims to sue. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Robert Spada, a Cleveland-area Republican, will require identified sex offenders to submit their names, addresses and photos to a state-run civil online abuser registry. It also increases penalties for church employees who fail to report known abusers. Although the law includes all clergy, victims of the abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic church welcomed a change that would allow future sexual abuse victims to sue as late as 12 years after reaching age 18. Previous law limited that to two years. The provision that was removed applied to past abuse. It would have allowed victims one year to file lawsuits over abuse that happened up to 35 years ago. The law takes effect in early August.
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