 Adjust Text Size
For Immediate Release
November 17, 1998
Senate Approves White/Jubelirer Child Protection Reforms
Harrisburg – The state Senate today approved two major child protection
initiatives that are aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania’s child welfare
system and protecting at-risk children. Senator Mary Jo White (R-Venango), who along with Senate President
Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R-Blair), led Senate action on the reform
measures, said the changes place the highest priority on protecting the
safety and well being of children. The legislation sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White is aimed at moving
children from foster care and other temporary settings to permanent homes. The senator said her measure, approved as an amendment to House
Bill 1897, is intended to preserve family unity whenever possible and provide
a safe, alternative setting when necessary. The amendment also brings Pennsylvania into compliance with the
federal Adoption and Safe Families Act. Pennsylvania must be in compliance
by the end of the year or face the loss of hundreds of millions of federal
dollars, she said.
Under the legislation:
-
Permanency hearings would have to be held within six months after a child
had been removed from the home. Hearings would have to be held every six
months until the child is returned home or permanently placed in another
family.
-
A termination of parental rights petition would be filed for all children
in placement for 15 months out of a 22-month period, unless the court finds
a compelling reason not to file.
-
The child’s foster parent, pre-adoptive parent or relative providing care
would receive a notice of court hearings and the opportunity to be heard.
-
Courts would consider drug and alcohol abuse when determining whether a
child should be placed in another setting.
The bill sponsored by Senator Jubelirer focuses on improving communication
and cooperation among agencies, so that cases of abuse are identified early,
before the violence escalates and children are endangered.
The changes would:
-
Make it easier for county officials to share confidential reports involving
alleged cases of child abuse where the suspected abuser moves from one
county to another.
-
Require county agencies to retain reports of suspected child abuse for
one year so they are available for use in criminal cases.
-
Allow district attorneys to access confidential child abuse reports involving
serious physical injury.
-
Prohibit those convicted of felony drug offenses from working as child
services employees or serving as an adoptive parent.
"We owe it to our children to keep them free from harm and living
with permanent families," said White.
The legislation will now be considered by the House of Representatives.
CONTACT: Leigh Ramsey (717) 787-9684
| 
