Carrell Bill Requires Supervisors To Forward Reports Of Sexual Abuse

(This comes from the office of state Sen. Mike Carrell)

In the wake of the recent sex abuse scandal at Penn State University, Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, has proposed a bill that would strengthen state law regarding who must report acts of abuse.
 
Authorities have charged a former football coach at Penn State with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year span, and that state’s police commissioner has criticized university leaders for failing to do more to alert authorities to the allegations. Carrell says Senate Bill 5971 is an updated version of a bill he originally drafted in 2008.
 
“My original bill came about after several incidents in my district, in which a person suspected that criminal activity was allegedly taking place on school grounds and reported it to the school principal,” said Carrell. “However, the principal didn’t take the matter to the authorities and the incidents were never properly investigated. My bill would have modified the law making it mandatory for individuals in supervisory positions who receive such reports to forward them to law enforcement. While that bill never got a hearing,” Carrell continued, “I’m confident that this version – given the tragic events at Penn State – will be met favorably by the Senate.”
 
Washington law already requires professionals likely to encounter children (such as child-care workers, teachers and doctors) to make an official report to their supervisors when they have reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected. Carrell says his bill would require that supervisors who receive such a report must take that information to law enforcement within 48 hours.
 
“Our duty, first and foremost, is to protect the children of our state,” Carrell added. “It’s unfortunate that it took such a grievous event like the scandal at Penn State University to focus the attention of the Legislature on this, but I’m looking forward to having the discussion that will ultimately help provide better protection for our most vulnerable citizens.”