NY near deal to require coaches to report abuse

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ALBANY — New York Senate leader Dean Skelos saidthe Legislature is close to a deal on a law to require college coaches, professors and others to report sex abuse.

The Senate majority leader tells The Associated Press that what’s referred to as the Sandusky bill is among the top priorities for the legislative session that ends June 21. Jerry Sandusky is the former Penn State football coach on trial for allegedly abusing 10 youths over 15 years.

The Sandusky bill was proposed by two upstate Republican assemblymen after they learned that college coaches, athletic directors, professors and administrators weren’t among mandated reporters of child sex abuse.

Failure to report an incident could result in a misdemeanor charge and a year in jail.

Physicians, school teachers and high school coaches are already mandated reporters.