Illinois Bill Protects Homeschoolers: Makes it a Crime to Falsely Report Child Abuse

SPRINGFIELD, December 10, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Legislation which has passed the Illinois House and is working its way through the Senate would ensure that those who knowingly falsely report child abuse are prosecuted.  The Home School Legal Defense Association supports the legislation.  HSLDA notes that “Many homeschoolers are routinely subjected to social worker investigations based on completely false allegations. Unfortunately, the majority of false tipsters face either no or insignificant consequences for the serious emotional trauma imposed on the families they harass.”  The “Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act” (H.B. 2902) says, “Any person who knowingly transmits a false report to the Department (of Child and Family Services) commits the offense of disorderly conduct under subsection (a)(7) of Section 26 1 of the ‘Criminal Code of 1961.’  Any person who violates this provision a second or subsequent time shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.”  HSLDA has encouraged its members to support the legislation.