By: Khan Singleton
Edited by: Ryan Bethea
A bill to expand the list of people required to report suspected child abuse was tabled by a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Thursday amid concerns it could create confusion about law enforcement's role in the process.
The current law requires educators and medical personnel who oversee a child's medical well-being to report suspected abuse cases. The bill would expand that to school staff, camp counselors, coaches, and people whose jobs require direct contact with kids.
Sen. Mike Rose, R-Dorchester, said he proposed the bill in response to the recent reports of child sex abuse at Penn State University and The Citadel, and concerns about whether they were properly reported.
People who suspect a parent or guardian of child abuse would contact the Department of Social Services first instead of law enforcement. That concern Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington.
"Law enforcement should be contacted first and then DSS should be brought in if probable cause is found," Knotts said.
Subcommittee chairman Sen.Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, said the bill needs to narrow its focus to make clear the expanded reporting requirements are aimed at strong sexual predators. He also was concerned that people get proper training on how to handle abuse cases.
But Rose said training shouldn't deter the committee from passing a wider reporting of child abuse.
"If 22 states can implement universally reporting of child sex abuse, we should be able to," Rose said.
John Brown, director of services for The Nurturing Center in Columbia, which serves abused children, agreed with the committee decision, saying the language needed clarity.
