Lawmakers aim to reform child-welfare system after Sun Herald series
JACKSON -- State lawmakers have so far introduced four bills aimed at reforming the state’s child-welfare system, less than a week into the legislative session that began Jan. 3.
Rep. Timmy Ladner, R-Poplarville, introduced a bill Monday that seeks to prohibit people from making completely anonymous reports of child abuse or child neglect to the state Department of Child Protection Services, formerly known as a division of the Department of Human Services. Rep. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, filed a similar bill Tuesday.
Under the bills, people who report abuse or neglect will have to give their name and other basic information. That already is a requirement for mandated reporters, such as doctors and counselors, who are required to report suspected or observed abuse. Average citizens can still maintain their anonymity when making a report because their information will be kept confidential by the agency. Only when there is suspicion of a malicious false report will someone’s information be disclosed.
The point of the legislation is to curtail the large number of unfounded and false reports CPS receives, some of which are made carelessly or maliciously, Ladner said.
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/special-reports/dhs/article125639894.html