House Gives Preliminary Approval To Foster Care Bill

House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods insists her foster care bill remains a work in progress, even though it is poised to pass the House and move to the Senate. The House has given the bill tentative approval. It would make several changes to correct problems exposed by the tragic death of two-year-old Dominic James of Willard in August. His foster father is accused in the death. Hanaway defends the portion of the bill that requires reporters to identify themselves when making a report on the child abuse hotline, while allowing the general public to make anonymous calls. Some complain the hotline is abused, especially by spouses involved in divorce proceedings. Hanaway says it’s a balancing act that attempts to keep the hotline open to report child abuse while limiting the number of frivilous calls.