Hanbidge earns appointment to Task Force on Child Pornography

HARRISBURG, Sept. 14 – With a strong background in child advocacy, state Rep. Liz Hanbidge was recently appointed to Pennsylvania’s newly formed Task Force on Child Pornography.

The second-term Montgomery County legislator was appointed by House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton via official letter to Charles H. Ramsey, chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The Task Force on Child Pornography was established after S.B. 87 passed both the Senate and House with strong bipartisan support earlier this year and Gov. Tom Wolf signed it as Act 53 of 2021 on June 30.

“The goal of this Task Force is protecting children from child predators and sexual abusers,” Hanbidge said. “As a child advocate, I witnessed the incredible power of working with a diverse group of professionals and experts united in the goal of making sure every child is safe. I look forward to working with and learning from the other members of the task force to ensure that every child in the commonwealth is safe from exploitation and victimization.

“I am grateful for the trust shown by Leader McClinton, Chairman Ramsey and all other colleagues who recognize how important this issue is to me and why I take this appointment very seriously.”

The Task Force’s primary role is to review all laws pertaining to child pornography and to make recommendations to improve the investigation and prosecution of offenders to ensure perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable. It will also create long-range plans and strategies for statewide community education about child sexual abuse and its prevention.

Prior to her election in 2018 to represent the 61st Legislative District, Hanbidge owned a law practice in Montgomery County serving, among others, families and nonprofits. As a practicing attorney, Hanbidge devoted much of her time to pro bono work with the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project and worked with child victims of sexual abuse. As a court-appointed guardian defending victims of abuse and neglect, she worked closely with police, judges, and children and youth services to protect children throughout the county.