Dear Friends,
Now that school is back in session, BCAC is proud to have been a part of two significant new laws which aim to protect your child in the classroom this year.
1) It will be harder for sex predators to be hired in our schools.
The Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Prevention Act (HB 486/SB 541) went into effect July 1st, 2019. This new law does what background checks do not: it seeks to stop child sexual predators from being “passed
around” from school to school when their misconduct and abuse has not risen to the level of a criminal conviction. The law requires every school (public or private schools that receive state money) to inquire if an applicant has ever been investigated, discharged, disciplined, asked to resign, or had their license suspended or revoked for sexual abuse or sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct includes grooming and sexually suggestive behaviors such as touching, sexting, or making explicit or “romantic” comments. This bill was sponsored by child abuse warrior Delegate C.T. Wilson and had strong support from the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect and many other advocates, including BCAC. Sen. Clarence Lam sponsored the bill in the Senate.
2) Educators will finally be able to be held accountable for failing
to report child abuse and neglect.
This bill -- more than a decade in the making -- finally makes Maryland one of the last two states in the country to put teeth into its mandatory reporting law. Championed in the Senate by longtime child advocate Senator Susan Lee and in the House by game-changing Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (who was a recipient of BCAC's 2019 Be a Hero Award), HB 787/SB 568 imposes a criminal penalty when mandatory reporters fail to report known child abuse. This law is critical: the majority of child abuse reports come from mandatory reporters such as teachers, health workers and youth service workers. Unfortunately, some institutions and administrators choose NOT to report, thus emboldening predators and allowing them to harm more victims. It becomes effective on October 1st, 2019.
We’re proud to have been on the front lines with advocates, community members, and partners who work to protect children. These are but a few of our accomplishment which will make a difference throughout Maryland schools this coming year. Thanks to your support and our voice in Annapolis we all made these important accomplishments possible.
Let’s stay safe,