For Immediate Release: Jan. 18, 2024

Contact: Lillian A. Williams, 573-751-0220

Senator Doug Beck’s Legislation to Safeguard Abused Children Advances

 Jefferson City — Children will have more legal and physical protections from a convicted abusive parent under legislation sponsored by State Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, and presented to the Senate Progress and Development Committee on Jan. 17. 

Senate Bill 878 prohibits courts from awarding unsupervised visitation, custody or guardianship to a parent who has previously been found guilty of sexually abusing their child or sexually assaulting the mother of their child.

“Protecting traumatized children from further abuse is vital, especially those who have been violated by the one person charged to love and protect them,” said Sen. Beck. “I hope the committee and Senate pass this commonsense policy soon to further safeguard kids from abuse and neglect.”

Similar in scope to legislation that progressed through the Senate and was nearly passed by the House in 2023, SB 878 awaits committee approval before being considered on the Senate floor.

For more information about Sen. Beck and his legislation, please visit his official Senate website at senate.mo.gov/beck.

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