The state Senate is currently mulling legislation that aims to broaden the legal definition of "child abuse," which attorneys and legislators say would make it easier to identify and punish abusers.
Currently, child abuse is defined under Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, known as the Child Protective Services Law, as "(A) Any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes nonaccidental serious physical injury to a child. (B) An act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes nonaccidental serious mental injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child. (C) A recent act, failure to act or series of acts or failures to act by a perpetrator which creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child. (D) Serious physical neglect by a perpetrator constituting prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide the essentials of life, including adequate medical care, which endangers a child's life or development or impairs the child's functioning."
