HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are starting to debate potential changes to the state's child abuse protection laws, starting with testimony by members of a task force that issued detailed recommendations two months ago.
The state House's Judiciary and Children and Youth committees held a three-hour hearing Tuesday that featured as witnesses lawyers and doctors who served on the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection.
Legislative leaders say they expect to move quickly on some changes to laws on how child abuse and child sexual abuse are reported and investigated, while others will take more time.
The Jerry Sandusky and Catholic clergy molestation scandals are part of the reason for the new push, but officials say it's been too long since the state's child protection laws were given an overhaul.
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