SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - At least two pieces of legislation will come out of Jolene’s Law Task Force with one extending the blue ribbon panel’s work.
Task Force Chair State Senator Deb Soholt says another proposal address mandatory reporting. Soholt says current law requires the teacher or nurse, the adult in charge, to go to a supervisor and report suspected abuse. She says a bill being drafted would allow the initial reporting party to be a part of the reporting process as well.
One finding coming out of Jolene’s Law Task Force is that many adults either aren’t seeing or are failing to report child sexual abuse.
The Republican Legislator from Sioux Falls says it’s imperative to say no more. She says we feed, clothe and put a roof over our children's head but there's tendency to tell children they're on their own when it comes to sexual abuse.
The Task Force meets one more time before presenting its findings and potential bills to the full Legislature in January.