A BILL

To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require States receiving funds under section 106 of such Act to have in effect a State law providing for a criminal penalty on an individual who fails to report witnessing another individual engaging in sexual abuse of a child.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Sherrice Iverson Act”.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT ON STATES RECEIVING GRANTS FOR CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

(a) In General.–Section 106(b)(2) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)) is amended–
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting “; and”; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
“(E) an assurance in the form of a certification
by the chief executive officer of the State that the
State has in effect and is enforcing a State law
providing for a criminal penalty on an individual 18
years of age or older who fails to report to a State or
local law enforcement official that the individual has
witnessed another individual in the State engaging in
sexual abuse of a child.”.
(b) Effective Date.–The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on December 31, 2004.