| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/1/2011 4:18:10 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Oregon--Bad Bill Adds Volunteers to Mandatory Reporters |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Oregon--Bad Bill Adds Volunteers to Mandatory Reporters! Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Please contact the House Human Services Committee before Wednesday, April 6, and let members know you are opposed to House Bill 2459. This bill could add every employee or volunteer in a private or religious organization who had contact with children to the list of those required to make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect. If a volunteer failed to make a report, he or she could be subject to a criminal Class A violation charge. If House Bill 2459 passes, volunteers in a church, youth group or with any charitable organization that has contact with children would become mandatory reporters. This would be the first time that volunteers in Oregon would be subjected to possible criminal charges if they failed to make child abuse and neglect reports. While anyone can make a report if they suspect child abuse or neglect is occurring, if House Bill 2459 passes, private and religious organizations would have a responsibility to train volunteers that they should report all suspected instances of abuse or neglect. This could cause many innocent families to be investigated just so volunteers don't miss the one true case of abuse or neglect. Additionally, private groups that rely heavily on volunteers to provide needed programs involving children may find fewer people willing to help once they realize they could be subjected to criminal charges if they miss a possible situation of abuse or neglect. House Bill 2459 is scheduled to be heard by the Human Service Committee at 8 a.m. on April 6. Please contact the committee members listed below and urge them to oppose the bill. REQUESTED ACTION 1) Please inform your church or any other charitable organization that you work with who may be impacted by House Bill 2459 so they can get involved as well. 2) Please call and/or email the members of the House Human Services Committee listed below with the following message in your own words: "Please oppose House Bill 2459. Adding employees or volunteers of religious or private organizations to the list of those required to make reports of abuse or neglect is a bad idea." "Volunteers or employees of private organizations should not face potential criminal charges if they fail to miss abuse or neglect. Adding these individuals to the mandatory reporting list could cause valuable private programs to lose volunteers. Additionally, HB 2459 could dramatically increase the number of false reports, as volunteers report situations that aren't abuse and neglect because they don't want to face criminal charges for failing to report." "Anyone can already voluntarily make a report of abuse and neglect. Employees or volunteers of religious or private organizations should not be added to the list of mandatory reporters. Please vote against House Bill 2459." If your representative is on this committee, please let him or her know that you are a constituent. To find the name of your representative, use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox . You do not need to tell the committee members that you are a homeschool parent. House Human Services Committee: Rep. Vic Gilliam (R), Co-Chair Phone: 503-986-1418 Email: rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us Rep. Carolyn Tomei (D), Co-Chair Phone: 503-986-1441 Email: rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us Rep. Lew Frederick (D), Co-Vice Chair Phone: 503-986-1443 Email: rep.lewfrederick@state.or.us Rep. Jim Thompson (R), Co-Vice Chair Phone: 503-986-1423 Email: rep.jimthompson@state.or.us Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D) Phone: 503-986-1433 Email: rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us Rep. Chris Harker (D) Phone: 503-986-1434 Email: rep.chrisharker@state.or.us Rep. Julie Parrish (R) Phone: 503-986-1437 Email: rep.julieparrish@state.or.us Rep. Jim Weidner (R) Phone: 503-986-1424 Email: rep.jimweidner@state.or.us BACKGROUND House Bill 2459 would add the following individuals to the already large list of mandatory reporters: "Employees or volunteers of any public or private organizations providing child-related services or activities that allow the employees or volunteers temporary care and control of a child, including but not limited to youth groups or centers, scout groups or camps, summer or day camps, survival camps and groups, centers or camps that are operated under the guidance, supervision or auspices of religious, public or private educational systems or community service organizations." "Employees or volunteers of any public or private entity or organization providing prenatal or pregnancy care to a child who is pregnant." A Class A violation is a criminal charge which, if convicted, would subject the individual to a fine of $720 per violation. To see the annual reports on abuse and neglect statistics in Oregon you can go to: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10784 To see more information on this and other bills HSLDA is monitoring in Oregon, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10785 . If you are not already a member, please consider joining HSLDA and help support home education freedom in Oregon and beyond. You can join online at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10786 . Sincerely, Thomas J. (Tj) Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your friends stand by you in trouble? They will if you're an HSLDA member and your homeschool is threatened. HSLDA is ready to stand by your side along with 80,000 other homeschool families. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
