People from the Baltimore Child Abuse Center were in Annapolis on Thursday to support 10 bills being introduced to protect Maryland's children.
Some of the bills proposed involve training sessions for mandated child abuse reporters and protections for child human trafficking victims. Another bill would inflict penalties to mandated reporters like school teachers or child care providers who don't report cases of child abuse of which they're aware.
"We rely on these mandated reporters to make that report of abuse," said Adam Rosenberg, a representative of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center. "Unfortunately in Maryland, we are one of two states that have no penalty for the failure to report abuse; so when a teacher, counselor or social worker knowingly learns of abuse and doesn't report it, there's no protection for that child there."
Before attending the hearing in the Maryland General Assembly, supporters went door to door in the House and Senate to talk with lawmakers about the bills.
