The House granted first approval April 1 of a bill to strengthen reporting systems and investigations across child, elder and animal abuse cases.
House Bill 2292, sponsored by Rep. Holly Jones, …
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The House granted first approval April 1 of a bill to strengthen reporting systems and investigations across child, elder and animal abuse cases.
House Bill 2292, sponsored by Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka, would require animal control officers and animal humane investigators to be mandated reporters for all instances of child abuse, abuse of the elderly and abuse of vulnerable individuals, in addition to animal abuse. The bill similarly requires that select state employees, including social workers, school counselors, teachers and Child Protective Services workers, report any instances of animal abuse.
Jones described the measure as an early warning system, explaining that abuse involving animals, children and vulnerable adults is often connected. She said that requiring law enforcement to "cross-report" would help with enforcement.
The bill also requires additional training for animal control officers and Child Protective Services workers to spot the signs of abuse outside their normal scope.
Jones' bill is similar to Senate Bill 899, sponsored by Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Families, Senior and Health last Wednesday.
Jones' bill also expands investigative support by allowing trained animal abuse investigators with the Missouri Animal Control Association to assist local agencies facing “manpower issues” that can leave cases unexamined.
The bill was approved after two amendments added increased enforcement measures for different kinds of abuse. Rep. Bennie Cook, R-Houston, added an amendment that would create an Office of Special Investigations in the Department of Health and Senior Services to assist law enforcement with abuse cases involving elderly and disabled adults.
Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker, added another amendment to create penalties for knowingly submitting a false animal abuse report to law enforcement.
Mayhew highlighted situations where personal disputes, such as breakups, could lead to malicious false reports as a form of retaliation. The amendment seeks to deter mistreatment of the reporting system to focus on genuine cases of abuse.
