Harrisburg – December 12, 2013 – A legislative package designed to help prevent child abuse and increase protections for children has now cleared the Senate and is headed to the governor for approval, according to Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny).

“Senate Democrats have worked collaboratively with our Republican colleagues and together we have made progress in addressing key issues as it relates to child protection,” Costa said. “The legislation adopted by the Senate this week is significant and includes many priorities identified by Senate Democrats.”

The legislative effort to push meaningful upgrades in Pennsylvania’s child protective statutes gained momentum following the 2012 prosecution of Jerry Sandusky for child abuse.

The package of bills approved, and other measures still awaiting approval in the state House of Representatives and Senate, includes initiatives identified by the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection.

The child protection bills passed by the Senate include:

  • Senate Bill 1116 – (Sen. Washington) streamlines the duties and responsibilities of Multidisciplinary Investigative Teams (MDIT) to allow for a more open an expedited process of investigating reports of child abuse;
  • Senate Bill 23 – (Sens. Baker/Tartaglione) amends the definition of “perpetrator” to include current and former spouses and paramours of parents, as well as certain family members. The bill also includes additional provisions for expunction of records in circumstances where the perpetrator was under the age of 18;
  • Senate Bill 28 – (Sens. Browne/Leach) enhances criminal penalties for child abuse, as well as for instances of false reporting of suspected child abuse;
  • Senate Bill 30 – (Sens. Erickson/Kasunic) provides for a statewide database for anyone who files a false claim of child abuse. Also provides parameters for expedited appeals of indicated reports;
  • Senate Bill 34 – (Sens. Smucker/Williams) amends the Professional Educator Discipline Act to expand its jurisdiction and allows revocation of teaching certificates through the state Department of Education in instances of founded reports of child abuse.

Costa thanked Sens. Washington, Leach, Kasunic, Williams and Tartaglione, the sponsors or lead co-sponsors of the legislation that was adopted, for their leadership in helping push these measures through the process.

“In particular, Senator Washington has provided strong leadership on this issue for the Senate Democratic caucus,” Costa said. “Her knowledge of the issues and her deep concern for the welfare of children has been very helpful to members on both sides of the aisle,” Costa said.

Washington serves as the Democratic Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee and has a long record of work in the area of preventing child abuse.

He said that the entire Democratic caucus has worked to ensure that their ideas were considered as a part of the comprehensive package of bills that have become the child protection package.

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