Gov. Quinn Signs New Child Abuse Law In Score Studios
CHICAGO (CBS) —A new state law signed Wednesday by Gov. Pat Quinn live inside The 670 The Score studios is intended to protect young people and to prevent a sex abuse scandal in Illinois.
Gov. Quinn joined The Mully and Hanley Show on 670 The Score to officially sign the state law, which was designed to help further protect children and young people from sex abuse and child abuse in the wake of the sex abuse scandal at Penn State University.
"Young people place their trust in coaches and university officials, and it is their responsibility to report any suspected abuse," Quinn said. "This is an important law that will help us continue to protect our children and youth."
LISTEN: Gov. Quinn on The Mully and Hanley Show
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For the rest of this interview and other 670 The Score interviews click here.
The legislation, which was a direct response to what occurred at Penn State University and the sex abuse scandal involving former coach Jerry Sandusky -- who was recently convicted of 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys -- requires all university employees and coaches of any kind, from T-ball up to college level, to report cases of abuse. It includes both sexual abuse and other forms of abuse.
The measure won unanimous approval from state lawmakers, and Gov. Pat Quinn said he welcomed the measure.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts reports
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"All of us in America were horrified at learning what happened there to these poor children," Quinn said. "A jury has decided the case last week, on 45 different counts. I think we, in Illinois and across America, need to make sure our laws are strengthened."
Federal investigators are looking into claims that top officials at Penn State helped to covered up Sandusky's crimes.
"Coaches, people in authority in schools, if they know about something that's wrong, they have a duty to report it, and report it right away," Quinn said. "What happened at Penn State was downright wrong. Those children were abused, there were adults that knew about it and did nothing. That will not happen in Illinois."
The law goes into effect immediately.
