Rep. Marsha Haefner, R-Oakville, was given the opportunity Jan. 3 to speak at the press conference making public the 22 recommendations the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children has compiled for the governor and the state Legislature.

She stated in her speech, according a news release, that, “The decision makers for our state need to be held accountable for keeping all children safe from danger and abuse of all kinds. Kids can’t succeed in school, society or life if they are not safe.”

Haefner will offer legislation this upcoming session to do just that — by ensuring that mandate reporters are reporting firsthand instead of passing information up the line, and, by doing so, making certain that the victim in questioned less and speaking to trained qualified personnel sooner while their story is more accurate, according to the release.

Haefner has asked, and was assigned, to the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect and plans to share her gleaned information from this task force with that committee; hoping that it can assist many in making decisions that will protect our youngest citizens, the release stated.