New Pennsylvania Laws Guard Against Child Abuse

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Between 2002 and 2009, more than 340 Pennsylvania children died from abuse, many under two years old. Thousands more suffered lasting mental and physical scars.

Fortunately, the 2013 Pennsylvania legislature has passed 10 new laws that increase the protection of our children..

Reforms included lowering of the threshold of abuse from "serious bodily injury" to "bodily injury" and making it a crime for knowingly abusing children or failing to act when child abuse is being committed.

Recommendations were developed by the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection created in 2011 to review state laws and procedures governing child protection and the reporting of abuse.

PCCY.org, Pennsylvania Citizens for Children and Youth, created a handy summary of the laws with the names of the local elected officials from both houses of the General Assembly, including 40 state representatives and senators from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, who made certain new protections are in place to keep our children safe.

In:
• Pennsylvania Legislature
• Child Abuse