Greenleaf Bill On Out of State Abuse Cases Signed Into Law

HARRISBURG—A measure to ensure investigation of alleged child abuse when it involves a Pennsylvania resident visiting in another state has been signed into Law by Gov. Ed Rendell.

Senate Bill 86, sponsored by Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-Montgomery/Bucks, was offered in response to a report that a child abuse case was "falling through the cracks" because of provisions in state laws that precluded the initiation of an investigation.  Prior to the enactment of the Greenleaf legislation, Pennsylvania permitted only the investigation of abuse complaints that were alleged to have occurred in the commonwealth.  In the case brought to the attention of the senator, a Pennsylvania child was alleged to have been molested in another state.  The other state has a law that allows only for the investigation of child abuse complaints involving children who are state residents.

Under the new Pennsylvania statute, whenever there is suspected abuse occurring to a Pennsylvania child in another state that prohibits investigations of allegations involving an out-of-state child, a general protective services report will be assigned to the county of the child's residence.  A copy of the report would be issued to the other state's child protective services agency and, when appropriate, to law enforcement officials in the community where the incident occurred.

The Greenleaf measure contains unrelated provisions added in the House of Representatives.  These provisions will allow the State Department of Public Welfare to place a recovery lien on cash assistance following a recipient's personal injury settlement.  The House sponsor of the amendment has claimed that the provision will save the state approximately $700,000 annually.