Attorney General Chris Koster(D) wants Missouri lawmakers to beef up state law regarding child sexual abuse, in light of the scandal currently surrounding Penn State University.
Koster says right now in Missouri, only teachers, doctors, clergy and certain other professions are required to report child sex abuse to the authorities.
“But the rest of the 5.8 million of us are not," Koster said. "Eighteen other states have put the responsibility on all its citizens equally…Missouri needs to step forward and do more to protect children from this type of sexual abuse.”
Koster says Missouri law should require that all citizens who witness sexual abuse of a child to report it to the authorities, but he adds that such a requirement should not include forcing people to report suspicions of abuse. The 2012 legislative session begins in January.