Penn State Scandal: Sandusky Fallout Prompts New Law in California

Maybe there is something positive to come out of the horrific Penn State scandal after all.

Jerry Sandusky is currently the most hated man in America, and a San Diego lawmaker is attempting to make sure another man like this never exists within the collegiate ranks.

Sen. Juan Vargas D-San Diego has announced legislation on Wednesday that would require all universities and athletic directors in the state to report any suspensions of child abuse to the police instantly.

One of the big twists in the Penn State scandal was that technically Joe Paterno didn’t do anything illegal when he simply allegedly reported Mike McQueary’s story to his superiors in the athletic department without notifying police.

It was all he needed to do, but morally it will haunt him to his grave. Now the California law presented by Vargas would have an incredibly stiff penalty for doing what Paterno did:

"

His legislation also would increase penalties for those who fail to report child abuse - including making it a felony to "willfully fail" to report abuse and neglect or impede someone else from reporting it if the abuse results in death or great bodily injury.

The proposed law also states a "mandated reporter" would face up to 12 months in jail and a $5,000 fine for failing to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse, they could face up to 12 months in county jail, and a $5,000 fine.

"

Vargas told the San Francisco Chronicle that he “got sick” after reading the grand jury report on the Sandusky case. It’s a law that should be implemented in every state, and once again the state of Pennsylvania was slow to react.

How were they not the first state to introduce this bill? Once again the state isn’t being proactive. It makes you wonder what the heck is going on in the Keystone State. Let's hope that changes very soon.

I’ll leave you with the comments of Vargas that sums things up well:

"

These men protected their football team rather than the innocent boys. That is disgusting and never should happen again.

"