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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tom Yewcic |
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Yewcic measure would strengthen child sexual predator law
HARRISBURG, March 18 – State Rep. Tom Yewcic, D-Cambria/Somerset, was joined by state Sen. John Eichelberger at a Capitol news conference today to announce bipartisan legislation that would strengthen Pennsylvania's child protective services law in Pennsylvania.
The legislation (H.B.2350) would add a new section to the law to strengthen the reporting requirements to county agencies when there is evidence of sexual abuse involving girls 12 or younger. Under current law, any child aged 13, 14 or 15 who exhibits evidence of sexual activity may be the victim of statutory rape and or sexual assault in Pennsylvania.
Yewcic said he offered this bill because despite the mandatory reporting requirement under existing law, a number of child rapists and other sexual pretators avoid detection and punishment when the reporting requirement is circumvented by failures to make reasonable efforts to confirm the age of child victims.
"Under my bill, health-care providers would be required to report sexual abuse, sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy in children 12 or younger," Yewcic said.
Yewcic said the legislation would require that health-care practitioners prove that a child is 13 years or older by obtaining credible evidence. If a child is under 13 and a sexual incident occurred, the health-care agency would be required to contact the Child Predator Unit of the state Attorney General's Office and the county child service agency.
Under the measure, the health-care practitioner also would be held liable for damages suffered by the child from repeated sexual abuse or rape if the incident was not reported to authorities.
Yewcic said violators would face charges ranging from first- and third-degree misdemeanors to a felony.
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