EXCLUSIVE — ‘Penn State in the Pool: California Legislators Plunge Into the USA Swimming Sex Abuse Scandal’ … today at Beyond Chron

This article is adapted from the ebook “PENN STATE IN THE POOL: The Cover-Up of the USA Swimming Youth Coach Sex Abuse Scandal,” which will be published shortly.

I can report exclusively that the long-running child sex abuse scandal at the U.S. Olympic Committee’s governing body for youth swimming is now on the radar screens of both the California state legislature and members of the Bay Area’s Congressional delegation.

Next month the State Assembly Public Safety Committee will hold hearings on Assembly Bill 1628, sponsored by Assemblyman Jim Beall and State Senator Elaine Alquist, both of San Jose. The bill would raise from age 26 to 35 the statute of limitations for seeking justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

In addition, it would expand the categories of mandatory reporting of molestations within private entities (such as swim clubs) that use public facilities (such as aquatic centers). Finally, to promote community awareness and accountability, the law would require open disclosure of heretofore secret settlements of civil lawsuits in this area.

This initiative stems from the work of San Jose attorney B. Robert Allard, who has represented several swimmer victims and heads the group Lawyers Against the Sex Abuse of Children….

Allard also is making progress at the federal level through local Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Mike Honda – though House committee hearings on USA Swimming are not possible as long as the Republicans are the majority party there….

This new round of scrutiny in an Olympic year may or may not be a crowd-pleaser. But it is essential.

MORE TODAY AT BEYOND CHRON, THE SAN FRANCISCO ONLINE NEWSPAPER:

http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/Penn_State_in_the_Pool_California_Legislators_Plunge_Into_USA_Swimming_Sex_Abuse_Scandal_10039.html