This story discusses child abuse. Report child abuse to Kentucky’s Statewide Child Abuse Hotline at 1-877-597-233.  In many cases of child abuse, perpetrators have already hurt an animal.  Because of this, Kentucky Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville, wants animal control officers to be trained in how to spot signs of child abuse.  Her House Bill 246 unanimously passed the local government committee Tuesday morning. It has a bipartisan slate of co-sponsors, including House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect.  Under this legislation, Kentucky animal control officers would undergo a one-time training — either in person or online for free through Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky’s website. HB 246 allows counties to opt out if they lack the personnel to comply with the training requirement.   Reporting child abuse is the  “end point of responsibility,” under this bill, Witten said. Animal control officers would have no responsibility to investigate and would not be civilly liable “for any good-faith act or omission related to the recognition or reporting of suspected abuse or neglect.”  “Animal control officers are often the first to witness warning signs to identify child abuse in the household, and by equipping them with the training to identify child abuse, we can strengthen Kentucky’s child protection network and prevent tragic cases of neglect and mistreatment,” Witten said.  Kiera Dunk, a junior high school student from Oldham County and advocate for kids, pointed to data that shows most of Kentucky’s child abuse victims are not old enough to be in school, meaning there are fewer eyes on them.  “Are Kentucky’s at-risk children going to have to wait another year until the legislature decides that this is politically convenient policy to support?” Dunk said during the committee hearing. “Kentucky has sent God enough angels.”   The legislation is named Kyan’s Law in honor of Kyan Higgins, a Louisville boy whose mother killed him in 2021. According to House Republicans, animal control officers went to the home more than 20 times before his death.  Those visits, Dunk said, were “missed opportunities” to save him.  “Imagine if the entire state was participating in this training,” Dunk said. “How many hundreds of children would we be saving year after year?”  The bill can go to the house floor for a vote.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE The post KY animal control officers would be asked to help spot child abuse under GOP bill appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less