Sen. Doyle???s child abuse hotline legislation passes Senate
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??STATE HOUSE ??? Sen. James E. Doyle II???s legislation (2016-S 2368) that requires every public and private school in Rhode Island, including charter schools, to post a clear and visible sign for students that provide the state???s child abuse hotline number passed the Senate tonight.?? The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
???Our children need to know that if someone is hurting them, there is help out there to make it stop,??? said Senator Doyle (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket).?? ???This bill will keep our kids safe and bring justice to the morally reprehensible who would willingly hurt an innocent child.???
The statewide, toll-free telephone number that is implemented by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is staffed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.?? The purpose of the hotline is to receive reports concerning the suspicion of child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse by another child or an adult.
The sign to be posted in the state???s schools must be in a conspicuous, high-traffic area that is accessed and widely used by the students of the school.?? The sign must also be clear, simple and understandable to the students and have the information in the predominately spoken languages of the student body.??