Penn State scandal prompts new Ore. legislation

KOIN:

GRESHAM, Ore. -- What happened at Penn State, related to findings of an administration cover up in a sexual-abuse case involving minors, is now illegal in Oregon. "When we saw what happened, and we saw what we didn't have in Oregon, we knew right away what we needed to do," said Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham). As such, Oregon lawmakers have passed a measure they're calling the "Penn State Bill." This measure makes it illegal for any college employee to not report child abuse if they see it."We cannot let out children continue to be harmed in such fashions," said Sen. Monnes Anderson, herself a mother and grandmother. "It's just not right."Sen. Monnes Anderson has been watching the Penn State scandal unfold. It's the reason House Bill 4016 even exists. Thursday's news of a cover up, by the school's "higher ups," is exactly what Anderson wants to prevent in Oregon and exactly why she helped pass this bill. The new law adds people in higher education -- college professors, administrators, secretaries -- to the list of those already required to be mandatory reporters of child abuse in Oregon."I wish everyone would report child abuse without having a law, but that doesn't happen," she said. "And I'm glad that we're going to expand this law further in 2013."After Thursday's Penn State investigation findings, Beaverton-based Nike Inc. announced it would remove the late Penn State Coach Joe Paterno's name from its child development center.Related resources:The full "Penn State Bill," or Oregon House Bill 4016Oregon's mandatory reporting law

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