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RENDELL
SIGNS WASHINGTON’S CHILD PROTECTION BILL
INTO LAW
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Washington |
HARRISBURG,
July 3 - Governor Ed Rendell today
signed into law a bill that requires reviews
and reports on child fatalities and near
fatalities resulting from child abuse.
State Sen. LeAnna Washington
(D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), Senate Bill
1147’s prime sponsor, said the new law will
help local agencies and communities better
protect children from the tragic
consequences of neglect and abuse.
“I am ecstatic that we are
finally able to see this bill become a law
in Pennsylvania,” Washington said. “This
law will certainly be a valuable tool in
preventing future cases of child abuse and
neglect.”
The bill establishes procedures
for timely reviews and reports by the
Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and
county children and youth agencies regarding
child fatalities and near fatalities caused
by child abuse. Previously, DPW and the
counties conducted child death reviews, but
were not permitted to release the
information to the public regarding findings
and recommendations.
Under this new law, the reports
will be made available to the public so that
communities will have more insight as to how
the system worked or failed. |
