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Phila. State Senator Addresses Need For Legislation To Keep Child Predators Out Of Schools

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia state senator concedes he's willing to support a house bill mirroring legislation he wrote that would curb sexual predators from getting into the classroom.

Flanked by Delaware County D.A. Jack Whelan and Darby Township Police Chief Len McDevitt, Sen. Anthony Williams got their endorsement for his bill, passed in the Senate, to prevent school districts from hiding sexual misconduct allegations against teachers.

The D.A. and police chief are dealing with the case of a Southeast Delaware County elementary school teacher accused of improperly touching female students (See Related Story).

But as Williams promoted his "pass the trash" bill, saying it only needed a vote in the House, he learned that a separate bill nearly identical to his had already passed the House last week.

Williams, expressing annoyance his bill had been tabled in the House, says the issue is more important than who wrote the bill.

"You know this is part of the horse trading of politics. I can care less about that. I'm fine with supporting it and I'll be hopefully there when the governor, they might invite me when the governor signs it," Williams said.

 

 

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