MASSACHUSETTS
The Sun Chronicle
BY BERA DUNAU SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
FOXBORO – The town’s efforts to widen the scope of state law designating who is considered to be a mandated reporter of child sexual abuse has taken the next step, thanks to state Rep. Jay Barrows.
And, it could have a big impact, he told selectmen this week.
Foxboro’s child sexual abuse committee asked Barrows, R-Mansfield, to run the home rule petition the committee has drafted for the town through the proper channels in state government last spring. Barrows took the petition to legal counsel for the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
“It’s a game changer, what was drafted,” Barrows said Tuesday.
He said that the house’s counsel has come back with some suggestions, and that he would like to meet with the child sexual abuse committee and town counsel to discuss how to go forward. Barrows will talk with the committee at its Oct. 15 meeting.
As currently written, the petition would define a mandated reporter to include any public or private school employee, any paid or unpaid person who works with children in any public or private facility, all employees of the Town of Foxboro and all volunteers who work with children in Foxboro, as well as any other person in an organization who has contact with children.
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