A one-year jail sentence or a $1,000 fine could be ordered for a Missourian who was convicted of failing to report having witnessed a sex crime against a child - if lawmakers pass a bill state Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, has proposed.
It would require the reporting only if a person older than 18 witnessed an abusive act.
"This doesn't involve suspicion of abuse, for people who, of course, are not trained," Schmitt told the Senate's Judiciary Committee on Wednesday evening. "This is, unfortunately, the example that was front and center, and on full display, during the Penn State scandal, where someone witnessed it and chooses not do anything about it. ...