One of the new laws was written by Democratic State Assemblyman Roger Dickinson of Sacramento.
"The particular inspiration for this statute was Jerry Sandusky and the kids at Penn State - the scandal there with respect to child abuse that occurred."
His law requires coaches and administrators in public and
private K-through-12 schools to report suspected child sexual
abuse.
Dickinson notes that after the Penn State scandal, the late
head football coach Joe Paterno was quoted as saying he "didn't
know exactly how to handle it."
"Paterno didn't know what to do. No coach or trainer or
athletic administrator should ever be in a position of not knowing
what to do."
Two other separate bills require people who work at
universities and colleges - including coaches - to report suspected
cases of child abuse. Right now, those jobs are not on California's
list of mandated reporters.