Hearings Held On Pa. Child Abuse Bill — Members of the House Children and Youth Committee recently held a public hearing on legislation that would more clearly define what constitutes child abuse in Pennsylvania and strengthen protections for children, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
House Bill 726 proposes to lower the injury threshold for physical abuse, terming it “bodily injury” – the standard used for the crime of simple assault. The bill also defines, and makes it easier to substantiate, cases of serious emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse or exploitation, or conduct that intentionally compromises the safety of a child.
House Bill 726 was introduced based on recommendations made by the Task Force on Child Protection to improve state laws to protect against child abuse. The House Children and Youth Committee has made child protection one of the top priorities this session in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.