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Multiple Texas lawmakers have recently exclaimed the urgent need for stricter and harsher punishments for crimes committed against children. Crimes against children have been on the rise in Texas with reports seemingly coming out nearly every day about a public school teacher or person of power taking advantage of a child. These are the most disgusting acts a human being can commit and there are multiple solutions to help mitigate some of the problems.
Representative Steve Toth stated in an interview one way we could crack down on some of these holes in the systems. As it stands right now the board members of 501c3 nonprofit organizations are not considered mandatory reporters. This means that if a board member of a 501c3 nonprofit hears about a crime against a child that someone within the organization committed, there would be no criminal backlash if they were to keep that information to themselves. This takes total accountability off of the board and organizations are better able to hide wrongdoing from law enforcement. However, every adult in the state of Texas is considered a mandatory reporter but most District Attorneys don’t prosecute it. Representative Toth says that if they raise the penalty and hold board members of 501c3 nonprofit organizations accountable, District Attorneys will in turn prosecute the crimes.
Representative Nate Schatzline backed up Representative Steve Toth’s statements on X saying, “Great take from my friend (Representative Steve Toth) There is no reason that we should have a statute of limitations for child sex offenders in Texas! Let’s abolish it. Also, board members of non-profits should be mandatory reporters. Let’s clean this up in the 89th.” Representatives Toth and Schatzline have both been major advocates for the protection and end of the sexualization of Texas children.
Other Texas legislators have suggested ideas that would also help end the sexualization and sexual abuse of Texas children. There must be no statute of limitations on any crime against a child. There must be harsher penalties for adults who fail to report crimes against children. Too many times these crimes are able to be covered up but we must put an end to it. As of right now, there are some sexual abuse statutes that have no limitations which is a good start but it must be all of them. Thank you to legislators like Nate Schatzline and Steve Toth who fight for Texas children and hopefully will be taking charge on these issues in the 89th legislative session.