Following on the heels of the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal, Florida has just passed the most potent legislation in the nation, called the Protection of Vulnerable Persons Act, designed to protect kids.
Effective October 1st, colleges and universities, both public and private, through their administrators and employees, must report to law enforcement allegations of abuse on campus or at off-campus school events.
Penalties for failing to so report include a fine of up to $1 million per incident, as well as felony charges.
Florida’s Department of Children and Families, which administers the state’s child abuse hotline, is ramping up to receive an anticipated additional 50,000 calls per year.
The new law also provides funding to assist victims with relocation.
Florida isn’t the only state that has reacted to the events at Penn State. Three other states have also since passed laws mandating that university officials report suspected child abuse.
Read more in this [Dallas-Ft. Worth] KDFW Fox 4 TV news article: Florida heralds nation’s toughest child abuse reporting law in wake of Sandusky scandal and this Palm Beach Post article: ‘Penn State’ child abuse reporting law signed into law by Gov. Scott
