Senator Wayne Fontana to Re-introduce SB 26-Legislation to Improve Reporting and Investigation of Abuse of Students
Senator Wayne Fontana to Re-introduce SB 26-Legislation to Improve Reporting and Investigation of Abuse of Students
BACKGROUND: Current PA law provides that if there is a case of suspected child abuse in which the alleged perpetrator is a school employee, there is no requirement to report that abuse unless it rises to the level of a "serious bodily injury" which is equivalent to the loss of a limb or an organ that stops functioning, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation. ChildLine does not have responsibility for referral or investigation of those cases; rather it is local law enforcement that investigates and the process is entirely different from that for any other individual who is suspected of child abuse. The bill would remove the subsection that applies to school employees and include them in the general provisions of the Child Protective Services Law to ensure that all suspected cases of child abuse are treated the same.If passed, this legislation would ensure Child Protective Services investigations of reported abuse of students, including any act or failure to act that results in non-accidental serious physical injuries that cause a child severe pain or significantly interfere with his or her ability to accomplish age-appropriate developmental and social tasks.
No child should be forced to endure the level of abuse required under current law to be protected from abuse by a school employee. DRN strongly supports this legislation and asks that you take action: Please call your Senator now and ask that he or she co-sponsor the bill.
Click here to read the memo from Senator Fontana to All Senators regarding this issue.
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh