By Bob Katzen

The Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities will hold a hearing on March 26 at 10 a.m. in Room A2 at the Statehouse on a bill adding to the current list of mandated reporters required to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

The bill would add public or private school employees in Massachusetts; persons who care for or work with a child in any public or private child care facility; all state employees; and all volunteers who regularly work with children in locally-based teams and organizations such as volunteer youth sports coaches, church volunteers, park and recreation, library, scouting, boys and girls clubs, YMCA and any other person in a local youth organization who has contact with children. The current list of mandated reporters includes doctors and medical personnel, teachers and educational personnel, police officers, firefighters and many human service professionals.

“This bill is an important piece of legislation all about protecting our children,” said the bill’s sponsor Rep. Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield). “We are hearing about terrible situations every day involving abuse of our kids. I am hopeful this will move forward quickly out of committee.”