Bill > HB1839

This bill amends the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act to strengthen reporting and accountability for suspected child sexual abuse in healthcare facilities. The bill adds a definition of "sexual abuse or exploitation" referencing existing Pennsylvania law and requires the Department of Health to conduct compliance reviews during annual health facility inspections, specifically focusing on records of children under 14 years old. If an inspection reveals that suspected sexual abuse was not reported to child protective services or law enforcement as required by law, the department must notify the appropriate authorities and publish the results of the compliance review on its website, while protecting the victim's personal identifying information. The bill introduces new penalties for noncompliance: healthcare facilities that fail to report suspected abuse can be subject to civil action by the victim's parent or guardian, and may be referred to the Pennsylvania State Police and medical licensing boards for prosecution. Additionally, healthcare facilities that willfully fail to provide required records during the review can be charged with a third-degree misdemeanor, as can Department of Health inspectors who knowingly fail to report suspected abuse. The changes will apply to annual health facility inspections conducted after the bill's effective date, which is 30 days after enactment.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1839