Gov Signs Improvements to Child-Protection Laws

Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday signed into law three bills designed to improve Pennsylvania’s child-protection laws.

“The bills I am signing into law today are another step forward in the fight to end child abuse.” Corbett said. “Today, Pennsylvania says, ‘no more’ to child abuse.”

The three bills signed into law Monday were:

• Senate Bill 24, which creates a statewide database and allows for electronic reporting to make easier mandatory reporting of child abuse.
• House Bill 89, which ends the DARE Fund, supported by the sale of DARE license plates. Any remaining funds will be given to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to award grants to child advocacy centers.
• House Bill 316, which establishes the Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee that will approve and distribute grants to child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams.

“Today we send a strong message to all that children in Pennsylvania will be protected, and that protection is everyone's responsibility,” Public Welfare Secretary Beverly Mackereth said.