Penn State Scandal Sparks Review of CT Laws

Lawmakers may expand the mandatory reporter laws in Connecticut.

Some Connecticut lawmakers may look to expand the mandated sexual abuse reporter list in the wake of the Penn State scandal.

North Stonington State Representative Diana Urban, and New Britain State Senator Tony Gerratana said they will seek clarification about what constitutes a mandated sex abuse reporter in Connecticut. The two Democrats co-chair the state legislature's Select Committee on Children.

Connecticut law requires adults in certain professions, such as teaching, medicine, and law enforcement to report any allegations of the sex abuse of a child to authorities.

As the accusations that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulted several boys grow, some are asking why a graduate assistant who claims to have witnessed an encounter involving Sandusky and a young boy, did not report it to police. Mike McQueary told former head coach Joe Paterno about the alleged incident, but did not report it to police.

"The Penn State scandal is a wake-up call for lawmakers to examine if the laws we have on the books to protect children are doing the job. That was clearly not the case in Pennsylvania," Rep. Urban said. "Laws that require teachers, doctors and other professionals to report these crimes are not enough. It is the responsibility of all adults to report these sexual assaults on children."

An examination of current Connecticut statutes could lead to an expansion of just who is required to report child sexual abuse.

"We want to ensure that our children are protected here in the State of Connecticut, that's the bottom line," Sen. Gerratana said. "Mandating that all adult knowledge of sex abuse be reported is one way to accomplish that."

The legislators also what to know what the reporting policies are at UConn and the Connecticut State University System.

"I would guess that the parents of students at Penn State thought policies were in place to report sexual assaults to all the appropriate authorities," Urban said. "Now, they know better. I don't want that to happen in Connecticut.

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