Our Staff Reacts to Child Protection Measures Recently Discussed in Sente

The Senate Aging and Youth Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24)( As in Bob Mensch who threatened a motorist with a hand gunhttp://berkscountynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/09/bob-mensch-head-of-children-and-youth.html )approved a series of bills to provide sweeping improvements to Pennsylvania’s child protection laws. Read on to see the reaction of our staffers which is underlined.

The measures were sent to the full Senate for consideration.

What happened to Judy Schwanks bill which has languised in committee? That would have provided oversite for this agency which takes in millions of dollars, but has no accountability.

“Pennsylvania’s child protection laws are long overdue for review and update. No kidding.

 We’ve learned from the work of the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection What task force? The task force that was so secret that even the governor's office had no idea where they met and who was on it and what the agenda was? That task force?  and from hearing testimony what testimony?Who testified? How do we find out about this?  what needs to be done, and today is an important step in this critical process,” said Mensch who himself was brought up on charges of waving a handgun in a state car at an individual who "threatened" him..

The committee approved the following bills:

• Senate Bill 20 Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-4), Sen. Kim Ward (R-39) Updates the definition of “child abuse” and provides exclusions Exclusions? From child abuse? So everything will be an exclusion???.

“Before we can punish child abusers and help the victims, we must know what child abuse is Wow. They DON'T know what child abuse is in PA. Amazing.,” Senator Washington said. “Senate Bill 20 provides a clear, commonsense guide to what is and is not child abuse, while still allowing parents to parent. Does it allow people to have puppies? What about long grass? Is that addressed?As Democratic Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee – and a survivor of child abuse Wait, how did you identify yourself as a survivor if you just said that you had to know what child abuse was in order to punish and protect? – I could not be more proud to put my name on this important legislation and to be a part of this effort to save so many children from harm.” 

• Senate Bill 21 Sen. Kim Ward (R-39), Sen. John Blake (D-22) Clarifies who is a “mandatory reporter” of child abuse. People already report child abuse. Reporting isn't the problem. In fact, some people report people for child abuse just to retaliate against them.

• Senate Bill 22 Sen. Kim Ward (R-39), Sen. Tim Solobay (D-46) Increases penalties for failure to report child abuse. Again, reporting isn't the problem. And what happens if you are supposed to report and don't because your CYS agency tells you they'll take away your kids for "parental alienation"? Sort of a catch 22. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

“A massive overhaul of our child protective services law was long overdueThis isn't a massive overhaul. A massive overhaul would be providing accountability for agencies.,” Senator Ward said. “I am particularly pleased to offer Senate Bill 21 as it contains a key clarification as to who is a mandated reporter. The law was pretty clear. Just because the folks at Penn State chose to ignore it doesn't mean we need more legislation.In the past, there were instances where child abuse was overlooked or not reported to the authorities because the old law was confusing. It wasn't because the laws were confusing. My legislation should clear up any doubt as to who needs to report and when they are required to do so.”

“The enhanced penalties of failing to report child abuse under Senate Bill 22 should also serve as a reminder to mandated reporters that they can no longer shirk their duty to report without serious consequences,” Yes, report child abuse so your complaints can be ignored by your local CYS unless the child in question could be adoptable. In that case, the agency will act on it right away. Senator Ward continued.  “We cannot and will not allow children to continue to slip through the cracks.” Unless it means that we make money.......

• Senate Bill 23 Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20), Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2) Updates the definition of “perpetrator” and expands definition of “person responsible for a child’s welfare.” That's still pretty vague.

“By expanding the definition of a child abuse perpetrator, we can increase the number of vulnerable children protected from harm, and help more children who have already been harmed,” Senator Baker said. “This legislation will give child welfare workers the tools they need to keep offenders away from innocent children and to hold abusers liable for their crimes.” No it won't, especially when it seems that Pennsylvanians condone child abuse.

• Senate Bill 27 Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24), Sen. Mike Stack (D-5) Improves the exchange of information among medical practitioners and county agencies. And that will help how? It won't, especially when information is doctored by CYS.

• Senate Bill 30 Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26), Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-32) Establishes accountability and due process protections for individuals working with delinquent children in juvenile detention facilities and residential rehabilitative institutions. How about working to provide accountability for the laws we already have on the books instead of making new ones that people will just ignore and refuse to uphold?

“Over the years, the number of false claims of child abuse against staff who work with delinquent children and students in juvenile detention and private residential facilities has increased Why of course. These staff would NEVER hurt children. , and the appeals can take an average of 18 months to conclude,” Senator Erickson said. “My legislation will establish specific timelines for appeals for indicated cases of child abuse. It will also contain provisions to establish a subfile within the State Registry of those who have been found guilty of intentionally filing a false report, along with the name of the child involved in the report.”

• Senate Bill 33 Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24), Sen. Jim Brewster (D-45) Provides employee whistleblower protection for child abuse reporting. What about people who aren't employees and report child abuse of the kid next door? I guess they are on their own.

“My bills aim to improve the exchange of information from the point when someone first suspects child abuse through the time when an investigation is in progress,” said Mensch. “It became clear from expert testimony that more children could be protected if there was better coordination between agencies, and legal protections for those citizens who come forward to report abuse.” Children could be better protected if agencies follow the law, refuse to play favorites, and actually listen to children instead of caring first about how much money they can make/lose on a certain investigation.

The bills are part of a bipartisan package of legislation introduced following the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection, created by the passage of Senate Resolution 250 in December 2011. The panel held a series of public meetings and released its report in November 2012. Public meetings? Where and when????