Gov. Corbett visits Ambler to sign bills aimed at reporting abuse

AMBLER Gov. Corbett visited the Ambler Area YMCA on Tuesday to sign four bills aimed at protecting children from abuse.

Corbett was joined by several area legislators as well as doctors, law enforcement authorities, youth coaches, and attorneys, all of whom are now subject to "mandatory reporting" requirements.

Senate Bill 21 clarifies who is a mandatory reporter and sets a 48-hour deadline for them to refer suspected abuse to the Department of Public Welfare.

House Bill 436 increases penalties for those who are required to report suspected abuse but fail to do so, making it up to a second degree felony.

House Bill 431 requires certain state licensing boards to provide training on child abuse recognition and reporting.

Senate Bill 33 protects employees from workplace discrimination after reporting suspected abuse.

The package - 15 bills in all - came in response to the Jerry Sandusky scandal, in which several school officials, attorneys and coaches at Penn State allegedly heard about Sandusky molesting children and did not report it to authorities. - Jessica Parks