AICUP Message to Friends of Independent Higher Education
November 14, 2011

 

PSU Scandal Elicits Legislative Proposals

The State House and Senate return to session today and several legislative proposals are expected to focus on sexual abuse reporting arising from the Penn State scandal.   On Sunday, Governor Corbett said on NBC’s Meet the Press that he would not be surprised to see sex crimes law strengthened before the end of the year.

State Senator Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, announced today that she is introducing new legislation to expand to institutions of higher learning the responsibility of mandated reporting of child abuse, as well to increase the penalties for failure to report child abuse.  The Senate Aging and Youth Committee had already been examining Pennsylvania's definition of ‘child abuse” and the requirements for mandated reporting of child abuse throughout this past summer. Public hearings were held in August and October. "The allegations regarding child abuse at Penn State shake every decent person to the core," said Ward. "At the very least, the state can immediately require that University officials now be required by law to report suspected child abuse in concert to the standards already in place through K-12 schools statewide.”

A second bill introduced by Ward will increase the penalties for failure to report suspected child abuse. The bill will make it a first degree misdemeanor for failure to report in a first violation, and a third degree felony for second and subsequent violations.  A new Child Protection and Accountability Commission is also proposed to evaluate the overall system of child protection between state and county agencies.

State Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh) and state Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) are calling for passage of legislation that further protects the safety of children. Their proposals impose tougher penalties for crimes involving a child. A press conference is scheduled for today on this topic.

It is also reported that a news conference is scheduled for Tuesday from Democratic legislators.  Rep. Michael McGeehan (D-Philadelphia), an advocate for changes in Pennsylvania’s sex abuse laws, has already introduced several bills (HB 878, HB 832, HB 1876 and HB 1895) in the House that would extend the statute of limitations on the ability of victims to sue and require anyone with knowledge of child sex abuse to report it.  Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia), Rep. Louise Bishop (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) are also calling for legislation that would make it mandatory to promptly report suspected sex crimes against minors. 

A number of colleges and universities are also reviewing their policies on children’s access to campus buildings and facilities. Many schools are reviewing the role of campus personnel and police in handling crimes.  Colleges are required to report all crimes on or near their campuses under the 1990 federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Reporting Act.

Did you know?  Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin) announced last week that he is not seeking re-election next year.  He was first elected to the General Assembly in 1976.  Senator Piccola has been a strong advocate for choice in both basic and higher education, and he has also been an advocate for privacy protection for students against a state unit record data system.  AICUP awarded him the Benjamin Franklin Medal at last spring’s AICUP Annual Meeting.

 

 

Mary Young, Ph.D.

Vice President for Government Relations

AICUP

101 North Front Street

Harrisburg, Pa.  17101

young@aicup.org

 

 

 

717-232-8649 Ext. 227

 

AICUP Message to Friends of Independent Higher Education
November 14, 2011

 

PSU Scandal Elicits Legislative Proposals

The State House and Senate return to session today and several legislative proposals are expected to focus on sexual abuse reporting arising from the Penn State scandal.   On Sunday, Governor Corbett said on NBC’s Meet the Press that he would not be surprised to see sex crimes law strengthened before the end of the year.

State Senator Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, announced today that she is introducing new legislation to expand to institutions of higher learning the responsibility of mandated reporting of child abuse, as well to increase the penalties for failure to report child abuse.  The Senate Aging and Youth Committee had already been examining Pennsylvania's definition of ‘child abuse” and the requirements for mandated reporting of child abuse throughout this past summer. Public hearings were held in August and October. "The allegations regarding child abuse at Penn State shake every decent person to the core," said Ward. "At the very least, the state can immediately require that University officials now be required by law to report suspected child abuse in concert to the standards already in place through K-12 schools statewide.”

A second bill introduced by Ward will increase the penalties for failure to report suspected child abuse. The bill will make it a first degree misdemeanor for failure to report in a first violation, and a third degree felony for second and subsequent violations.  A new Child Protection and Accountability Commission is also proposed to evaluate the overall system of child protection between state and county agencies.

State Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh) and state Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) are calling for passage of legislation that further protects the safety of children. Their proposals impose tougher penalties for crimes involving a child. A press conference is scheduled for today on this topic.

It is also reported that a news conference is scheduled for Tuesday from Democratic legislators.  Rep. Michael McGeehan (D-Philadelphia), an advocate for changes in Pennsylvania’s sex abuse laws, has already introduced several bills (HB 878, HB 832, HB 1876 and HB 1895) in the House that would extend the statute of limitations on the ability of victims to sue and require anyone with knowledge of child sex abuse to report it.  Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia), Rep. Louise Bishop (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) are also calling for legislation that would make it mandatory to promptly report suspected sex crimes against minors. 

A number of colleges and universities are also reviewing their policies on children’s access to campus buildings and facilities. Many schools are reviewing the role of campus personnel and police in handling crimes.  Colleges are required to report all crimes on or near their campuses under the 1990 federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Reporting Act.

Did you know?  Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin) announced last week that he is not seeking re-election next year.  He was first elected to the General Assembly in 1976.  Senator Piccola has been a strong advocate for choice in both basic and higher education, and he has also been an advocate for privacy protection for students against a state unit record data system.  AICUP awarded him the Benjamin Franklin Medal at last spring’s AICUP Annual Meeting.

 

 

Mary Young, Ph.D.

Vice President for Government Relations

AICUP

101 North Front Street

Harrisburg, Pa.  17101

young@aicup.org

 

 

 

717-232-8649 Ext. 227