LANSING, MI – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a package of bills creating a statewide child abuse registry that will track confirmed cases of people convicted of child abuse.
The registered database will allow parents and guardians across the state to access accurate information about those convicted of child abuse in Michigan, according to a release from the governor’s office.
The bipartisan package of legislation, known as “Wyatt’s Law,” was first proposed in 2014 by a Michigan mom whose son was abused by his father’s girlfriend at the time.
Erica Hammel, of St. Clair Shores, said her son, Wyatt, was hospitalized in 2013 with a massive brain hemorrhage that doctors attributed to “Shaken Baby Syndrome,” according to the hospital. Wyatt was 1 year old at the time. His father’s then-girlfriend, Rachel Edwards, was later charged with abusing the boy, who survived the ordeal.
Edwards had a history of previous child abuse offenses, according to Macomb County Court records. Hammel said Wyatt’s abuse could have been prevented if his parents had access to Edwards’ history.
“Starting today, countless children’s lives in Michigan will be saved because that information is now easily accessible,” Hammel said in a prepared statement. “I’m so thankful to every legislator who has helped make this happen. There is and never will be any excuse for child abuse.”
The package of legislation – House Bills 5274, 5275, 5276, 5277, 5778, 5279, 5280, 5534, and 5594 – was led by State Rep. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores. Hertel celebrated the passage of Wyatt’s Law this week, nearly a decade after it was first proposed.
“Nearly a decade after Erica Hammel started seeking accountability for those convicted of child abuse in Michigan, Wyatt’s Law was signed into effect today,” Hertel said in a prepared statement. “While Erica and Wyatt will always feel the impacts of child abuse, this law will bring justice for countless other families by helping prevent abuse before it can happen.”
The bills will establish a statewide electronic case management system, similar to the Sex Offender Registry, to track confirmed cases of those abusing or neglecting children. It will also modify the procedure to amend or expunge inaccurate reports of child abuse or neglect, to ensure the list accurately tracks offenders.
Whitmer, who signed the bills into law May 5, said a statewide child abuse registry will help “keep kids safe at home, in school, and everywhere in between.”
“As governor of the great state of Michigan and a mom, there is no greater responsibility than keeping our kids safe,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Today, I am proud to sign Wyatt’s Law, establishing a statewide Child Abuse Registry in Michigan so we can accurately track confirmed cases of those abusing or neglecting children. I was proud to work across the aisle to get this done for our kids, parents, and families.”
State Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac, who sponsored HB 5278, noted the legislation will ensure that cases in the registry will be accurate and up-to-date, so that parents have access to correct information when making decisions about their children.
“For too long, we have failed our children and allowed abusers to come unnoticed into their lives, unable to keep them away from those who would do them harm,” Carter said. “I’m glad we’re saying enough is enough by finally putting the right people on the registry and taking the wrong people off.”
