Bill Text: PA SR276 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the month of April 2012 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 23-14)

Status: (Passed) 2012-03-28 - Introduced and adopted [SR276 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SR276-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2057
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 276 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, MENSCH, WARD, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, COSTA, DINNIMAN, EARLL, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FOLMER, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, LEACH, PILEGGI, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SCARNATI, SCHWANK, SOLOBAY, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, VANCE, WAUGH, D. WHITE, YAW AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 28, 2012
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 28, 2012
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2012 as "Child Abuse Prevention
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Each year, more than one million children in the
United States are documented as the victims of child abuse; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, there were 3,656 substantiated cases of
child abuse in this Commonwealth, with 33 children dying as a
result of abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, More than half of the perpetrators in 2010 were
relatives or household members; and
WHEREAS, In 2010 through 2011, the Pennsylvania Coalition
Against Rape provided services to more than 7,786 child victims
of sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, Child abuse crosses all racial, economic and
geographic boundaries; and
WHEREAS, The damaging effects of child abuse include, but are
not limited to, school failure, alcohol and drug abuse and
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physical and psychological difficulties; and
WHEREAS, Child abuse can and must be prevented and awareness
raised so that families learn they have access to community
resources which offer support, information and guidance to help
stop or prevent abusive behaviors or conditions; and
WHEREAS, Many Pennsylvanians in schools, social service
agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout this
Commonwealth, including the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance
and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, are working to
support the victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly enacted the Newborn Protection
Act, or Safe Haven Law, in 2002; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, an amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania was approved permitting child victims to testify
electronically; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, the General Assembly enacted a
comprehensive child abuse reform package (Act 179), updating the
Child Protective Services Law and lengthening the statute of
limitations for sexual offenses against children; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the General Assembly enacted legislation
(Act 111) to ensure that the Commonwealth meets federally
mandated standards under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and
Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-248, 120 Stat. 587) by
strengthening sex offender registration and notification; and
WHEREAS, Also in 2011, the General Assembly created the Task
Force on Child Protection to examine the practices, processes
and procedures relating to the response to child abuse and
reporting of child abuse and to make recommendations to the
Governor and General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, In spite of these efforts, more needs to be done to
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guarantee a childhood free of abuse and victimization to every
child in this Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2012
as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate commend those persons and community
groups that work to treat and prevent child abuse and urge all
Pennsylvanians to do their part in preventing the tragedy of
child abuse.
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