March 11--CHARLESTON -- Penn State's sordid sex scandal that led to the demise of football icon Joe Paterno inspired West Virginia lawmakers Saturday to tighten requirements for reporting child abuse.
In a unanimous vote, the House of Delegates approved a Senate bill that compels anyone who sees or suspects abuse of a child to not only notify a supervisor, but obligates both to get in touch with police.
"Unfortunately, when something like that happens in another state, you have to make sure your laws are as concrete as possible to protect our kids," Delegate Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha, said afterward.
Poore said SB161 retains the original reporting law but expands it so that anyone in close contact with children is aware of the responsibility to report any abuse, physical or sexual.
"If we just look straight at the Penn State situation, they reported to their supervisor and almost basically said, 'I've done my duty,'" Poore said.
Under the Senate bill, however, both the supervisor and the reporting individual must go a step further and call police.
"I think this is very concrete, well thought out, and I'm very proud of this legislation," Poore said.
Penn State's scandal rock-ed the world of college football when formal charges alleged that a former assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, who also operated a foundation for children, had abused some of the young participants on the university's campus.
In explaining the bill on the House floor, Poore emphasized the attempt is to fill in any gaps in the reporting process "like those observed in the sex abuse at Penn State."
Poore pointed out the measure covers any overseer, coach or volunteer at a youth group, camp or other entity that provides activities for children.
What's more, the intent is to embrace anyone who possesses, films or makes images for commercial use.
Merely calling suspected or observed abuse to a supervisor's attention doesn't relieve either of the obligation to call in law enforcement, the delegate stressed.
The only exception is when this would expose the whistleblower or the victim to an "increased risk" of harm, unless either has an opportunity to get out of harm's way.
Failure to obey the law can fetch a maximum fine of $1,000, or 30 days in jail, or both.
The Senate bill was sponsored by 13 members, including Sens. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, and Ron Stoll-ings, D-Boone.
"The Judiciary Committee worked very hard on that to get a good, solid bill," Poore said. "I'm very happy our house passed it out."
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Copyright 2012 - The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.
