Child abuse bill finally gets House hearing
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A bill that would toughen up the state's law against child abusers has found its second wind in the Legislature.
The bill dubbed the "Eryk Woodruff Public Safety Act" was heard on Friday, then set to be fast-tracked through the House.
Rachel Pierce fought back tears as she described to House members how a family friend and babysitter beat her young son.
"He had a fractured jaw. He had both of the forearms in his right arm broken. He had six fractured ribs," she said. "He was beat so badly that the doctor expected him to die."
Eryk Woodruff was nearly beaten to death by his babysitter when he was just 15 months old. The beating left him with several broken bones and severe brain damage. The boy's babysitter, family friend Matthew Christiansen, confessed to the crime and was sentenced to ten years.
But the boy's parents, Rachel Pierce and Russell Woodruff, believe Christiansen will be freed in just four years, and want the lawmakers to toughen the state's child abuse laws. The pair also want the state to establish a registry of child abusers, much like the sex offenders' registry.
The two sought help from Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens, a Seattle police officer.
"As a police officer, I've been there in the aftermath of things like this. And as a legislator, I'd like to see that I could prevent and stop some of these things from happening by pushing forward legislation like this," he said.
But for weeks, Hope's House bill had little luck. Last month, House Public Safety Committee Chairman Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, said the bill came at a bad time.
"If they give us the ability to hear bills after cutoff, which we don't currently have today, it's a bill I might consider scheduling a hearing," Hurst said on Feb. 11.
But after the interview with KOMO News, Hurt sought permission from leaders of both parties in the House, and earned in a hearing.
"This is a good piece of legislation. It's needed," He said.
But the work isn't done. Eryk Woodruff's parents are going to keep at it until the Eryk Woodruff Public Safety Act becomes Eryk's Law.
The bill dubbed the "Eryk Woodruff Public Safety Act" was heard on Friday, then set to be fast-tracked through the House.
Rachel Pierce fought back tears as she described to House members how a family friend and babysitter beat her young son.
"He had a fractured jaw. He had both of the forearms in his right arm broken. He had six fractured ribs," she said. "He was beat so badly that the doctor expected him to die."
Eryk Woodruff was nearly beaten to death by his babysitter when he was just 15 months old. The beating left him with several broken bones and severe brain damage. The boy's babysitter, family friend Matthew Christiansen, confessed to the crime and was sentenced to ten years.
But the boy's parents, Rachel Pierce and Russell Woodruff, believe Christiansen will be freed in just four years, and want the lawmakers to toughen the state's child abuse laws. The pair also want the state to establish a registry of child abusers, much like the sex offenders' registry.
The two sought help from Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens, a Seattle police officer.
"As a police officer, I've been there in the aftermath of things like this. And as a legislator, I'd like to see that I could prevent and stop some of these things from happening by pushing forward legislation like this," he said.
But for weeks, Hope's House bill had little luck. Last month, House Public Safety Committee Chairman Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, said the bill came at a bad time.
"If they give us the ability to hear bills after cutoff, which we don't currently have today, it's a bill I might consider scheduling a hearing," Hurst said on Feb. 11.
But after the interview with KOMO News, Hurt sought permission from leaders of both parties in the House, and earned in a hearing.
"This is a good piece of legislation. It's needed," He said.
But the work isn't done. Eryk Woodruff's parents are going to keep at it until the Eryk Woodruff Public Safety Act becomes Eryk's Law.
