Bill Would Require Private School Officials To Report Sexual Abuse

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- Private schools in New York would be required to report sexual abuse under a bill moving through the State Assembly.

The bill would legally require private school officials to report accusations of sex abuse to law enforcement, WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini reports. Right now, only public schools have to do that.

Dr. Mary Pulido with the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said that is outrageous.

"It's a double-standard and it leaves half a million children at risk for sex abuse and it simply doesn't make sense," she said.

Pulido said the need for legislation has been heightened in recent years by sex abuse scandals at Poly Prep and Yeshiva University High School.

In each case, former students said school officials were aware of the abuse, but failed to notify authorities.