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Bipartisan legislation to help protect young people from specific AI content and hazing is now state law.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 2474 last week containing provisions of House and Senate bills expanding the state Child Protective Services Act.
The new law sets stronger reporting requirements for AI-generated child sexual abuse and adds hazing as a mandated reportable offense of child abuse.
The hazing provisions in the new law will be highlighted by area lawmakers and school officials during a press conference Tuesday at Cheltenham High School in Montgomery County.
A Montgomery County grand jury report last summer highlighted failures of Cheltenham's football coaches to report the repeated hazing of a high school football player.
The grand jury's work helped make the law a reality, state Sen. Art Haywood, D-Montgomery, said on Monday.
HB2474 includes provisions of Senate Bill 1456, an anti-hazing bill sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne.
The new law adds unlawful distribution of intimate images, sexually abuse material using AI, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, HB2474 sponsor, and state Sens. Baker, Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, and Tracy Pennycuick, R-Bucks.
It requires mandated reporters to report to Childline all instances of child sexual abuse material they become aware of, including those produced by a minor.
The state Department of Human Services is to forward the reports to law enforcement.
"The rise of AI has made our children more vulnerable to exploitation and bullying," said Rivera.
Provisions of Senate Bill 1050 sponsored by Pennycuick are in the new law.
"Clarifying the responsibilities of those who report suspected abuse will help ensure that every child receives the protection and support they need," said Baker, majority chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.