Sandusky, Priest Scandals Lead to More Pa. Child Abuse Prevention Bills (NBC)

Four more bills spurred by the Jerry Sandusky and Roman Catholic clergy child sexual abuse scandals are now law in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Corbett signed the bills Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, which trains people to recognize and report suspected child abuse, says the bills contain provisions that are critical to improving how abuse is reported to authorities.

The bills expand the list of people who are required to tell authorities about their suspicion of abuse and increase the penalties for failing to report it.

The bills stemmed from recommendations produced 13 months ago by a panel of experts created by Corbett and lawmakers. Corbett has already at least a dozen bills that were part of the state’s first broad update to child abuse laws in nearly two decades.