Missouri House of Representatives Approves Bill to Protect Children

Another bill approved this week would strengthen Missouri’s laws dealing with the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect. The legislation would take important steps to make mandated reporters more accountable so that fewer abuse and neglect cases fall through the cracks.

The bill is meant to prevent tragedies similar to what we saw happen at Penn State where a case of sexual abuse that was witnessed by a university employee went unreported. HB 505 would require that current mandated reporters such as teachers make the call to the state child abuse hotline when they witness probable child abuse or neglect. The bill would eliminate an option that exists under current law that allows witnesses to report suspected cases to their superior. The change is an important one to make to ensure all suspected cases of abuse and neglect are reported and investigated.

The bill also would prevent an institution from performing its own internal investigation before making a hotline call. In addition, it would prevent employers from impeding or inhibiting a mandatory reporter from making a report, and it would ensure employers do not impose any adverse employment action on employees who make hotline calls.

The sad truth is that we have seen too many cases where suspected abuse or report has been reported to a supervisor but not forwarded on to the Missouri Children’s Division for investigation. With this bill, we want to make absolutely certain that all cases are reported and that the best interests of children are always put first. The legislation gives us an effective way to protect children.

House Bill 505 has been referred to the Senate Education Committee. If you would like to track this bill, please click on the following link:

http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB505&year=2013&code=R