Gov. Quinn signs youth sports reporting law passed in response to Jerry Sandusky scandal
BY DAVE MCKINNEY Springfield bureau chief dmckinney@suntimes.com June 27, 2012 5:30PM
Updated: June 27, 2012 5:30PM
SPRINGFIELD — College and youth sports coaches will face new reporting requirements in cases of child sex abuse under legislation Gov. Pat Quinn enacted Wednesday in response to the Penn State child molestation scandal.
The new state law, which passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously and takes effect immediately, imposes the new reporting requirements on university employees, athletic personnel and early intervention providers.
“I think it’s very important we learn the lessons of Penn State, that if any person of authority sees wrongdoing, sexual assaults on children or young people, they have a duty under law in our state of Illinois to report that,” Quinn told reporters Wednesday.
“What happened at Penn state was downright wrong. Those children were abused,” he said. “There were adults who knew about it and did nothing. That will not happen in Illinois, thanks to this law I signed.”
