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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Frank Dermody |
  
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Bill to prevent child abuse deaths and severe injuries approved by House
HARRISBURG, June 17 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at preventing child deaths and serious injuries caused by child abuse.
This marks the second time the House approved this proposal offered by state Rep. Frank Dermody. Last summer, the House unanimously approved H.B. 823 and sent it to the Senate, where it has remained in committee. Last week, the House Judiciary Committee reported out S.B. 1147 which includes Dermody's proposal.
Senate Bill 1147 would require the state Department of Public Welfare to review and report on each case of child fatality or serious injury resulting from child abuse. It also would create uniform standards for county children and youth agencies in responding to, reviewing and reporting on child fatalities or near fatalities resulting from child abuse. Current law does not provide specific guidelines for the review and reporting of child fatalities and near fatalities resulting from abuse.
"Today's passage marks an important step forward in child abuse prevention," Dermody said. "This has been a work in progress for almost 10 years.
"This bill would help the agencies and communities to better protect children from tragic and fatal consequences caused by neglect and abuse," Dermody said. "Through local and state agency collaboration, we can improve our capacity to reduce the number of young lives lost or seriously injured by child abuse."
Under the bill, a county children and youth agency would have to convene a child fatality or near fatality review team to analyze a case that resulted from abuse and recommend steps to prevent future tragedies. The team would consist of individuals in the community with expertise in child abuse, such as district attorneys, educators, representatives from domestic violence and drug and alcohol programs, children's lawyers and advocates and health-care professionals.
In addition, the legislation would increase accountability and transparency in the child welfare system because the completed review would be released to the public, except for certain identifying information, provided that doing so would not jeopardize a criminal investigation.
"Making these reports public will allow the community to look into the system and to make sure it is operating as effectively as possible," Dermody said.
In 2007, 46 children died from child abuse in Pennsylvania, an increase of 15 from 2006. Twelve of those children were identified as near-fatalities due to the severity of the injuries.
The proposal is supported by the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Association, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and many child advocacy organizations.
The bill now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.
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