To: "[email protected]" [email protected]
Subject: HB 1054
The House of Representatives voted in favor of SHB 1054 on Friday, March 7,
2003. The final passage was 62 yea, 35 nay, and 1 excused. SHB 1054
requires priests and other clergy to report child abuse and neglect, with an
exemption for confessions or confession-like situations. Those who fail to
report are subject to a criminal charge of a gross misdemeanor, with a
statute of limitations of 10 years.
SHB 1054 will now move to the Senate and be assigned to the appropriate
Senate committee. I look forward to working with you during the upcoming
weeks to help SHB 1054 move successfully through the Senate. I greatly
appreciate the support you provided while the bill was in the House, and may
ask for your assistance once again, should the bill come up for a public
hearing in the Senate.
In the meantime, please do contact your State Senators to let them know that
you support ESHB 1054. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact our office.
For further information regarding SHB 1054, the bill history and the roll
call, please go to: <http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/> and click on "bill
information."
Thank you again for your support. I really do appreciate it.
Mary Lou Dickerson
State Representative-36th District
(360) 786.7860
HB1054 Priest Reporting Bill passed the house, in Washington State!
by Trauma_Hound 4 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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Trauma_Hound
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Mulan
with an exemption for confessions or confession-like situations.
There is their loophole. But, it's a start. Thanks, Charlie.
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Trauma_Hound
Ya it's a start, at least if it's reported to clergy by the victim they have to report it, I told them I don't agree with the loophole. And they understand this.
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Shutterbug
Mulan, that's not a loophole, that's a four lane highway!! Everything from this point on will be confessions. Bug
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blueyes
It's not likely that an abuser will confess the crime to an elder. But a report from the abused or abuser's relatives, or others, is more likely.
Watch, the WTS will try to weasel out by trying to exclude elders, by claiming that they're not 'clergy'.
May the Washington State senate have the wisdom to pass this bill.
Blu -
(another exJW in Washington)