Sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, the measure would require clergy to report sexual abuse allegations to authorities unless the information was received in a context protected by clergy-penitent privilege, such as a confessional setting. FOX13
Washington is one of only a handful of states in the U.S. that do not list clergy as mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect.
"This subject is personally very important for me," Frame said. "Mandatory reporters play an important role in protecting children, which is why teachers and others who have close relationships with children have to take on that reporting responsibility. Faith leaders have similarly trusted relationships with children in their communities and should share the same responsibility.
"It takes really smart public policy to interrupt those cycles of violence," she told the news outlet. "This bill is already a major step forward for protecting children, and my priority is to pass it into law this year in the strongest form we can," she said.
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