(CNN) -- Pennsylvania needs to change its law in the wake of a scandal over alleged child sexual abuse by a then-member of Penn State's football coaching team, the governor said Sunday.





A new law is needed to make sure reports of alleged child sexual abuse are made to government authorities, Tom Corbett said.





"Should the law be changed? Absolutely," Corbett said on NBC's "Meet the Press."





Corbett was the attorney general who began an investigation of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.





A 23-page grand jury report released last weekend described crimes that Sandusky allegedly committed against young boys between 1994 and 2009 -- some of them on campus, both during and after his tenure at at Penn State.





Sandusky's attorney, Joseph Amendola, has said that his client disputes the report.





In 2002, a graduate assistant allegedly saw Sandusky raping a boy in the showers of a campus athletics facility. The graduate student, Mike McQueary, informed Joe Paterno, the team's coach at the time, according to the grand jury report. Paterno then alerted his boss, the school's athletic director.





It was years before law enforcement first learned about the allegation.





Penn State Athletic Director Timothy Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz have been charged for failing to report the abuse to authorities and misleading investigators. Prosecutors determined that a legal duty to report the alleged abuse applied to them, but not to McQueary and Paterno.





Members of both political parties "have already introduced measures" to change the law, Corbett said when asked about Paterno. "And we have to make sure that the change in the law is one that is effective. It's easy enough to take a look to see what other states have done. But I'm sure that within the next few weeks, you will probably see bills become public.





"I wouldn't be surprised to see if a bill was passed between now and the end of this year," he said.





McQueary, who was later promoted to a full-time assistant coach, eventually described the alleged incident in graphic detail to the grand jury. He was placed on administrative leave Friday.





The grand jury report says that Schultz and Curley were "senior staff" of the university. "Pennsylvania's mandatory reporting statute for suspected child abuse ... provides that when a staff member reports abuse ... the person in charge of the school or institution has the responsibility and legal obligation to report or cause such a report to be made by telephone and in writing within 48 hours" to the Department of Public Welfare, according to the report. "An oral report should have been made to the Centre County Children and Youth Services," it said.





Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law states that anyone who, in the course of employment, "comes into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made ... when the person has reasonable cause to suspect" that the child is a victim of abuse.





The law states that when the person is required to report "as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, that person shall immediately notify the person in charge." The person in charge ultimately has the responsibility to report the alleged incident to government authorities.





Jerry McHugh, a prominent Philadelphia attorney who represents victims of abuse but is not currently representing anyone involved in the Penn State scandal, told CNN Sunday a new law is needed to state that "if you eyewitness the abuse, you have a direct obligation to go to law enforcement."





Legal analyst Holly Hughes told CNN that when Paterno told his boss and no report was given to the authorities, "that is where they failed. That's where they fall down on the job."





There is also speculation that Pennsylvania's whistle-blower laws may apply to, and protect, McQueary.





Legal analyst and civil rights attorney Avery Friedman said the case highlights the need for "a re-examination of what is called the mandatory reporter law."
( CNN ) -- Pennsylvania needs to change its law in the wake of a scandal over alleged child sexual abuse by a then - member of Penn State 's football coaching team , the governor said Sunday . A new law is needed to make sure reports of alleged child sexual abuse are made to government authorities , Tom Corbett said . " Should the law be changed ? Absolutely , " Corbett said on NBC 's " Meet the Press . " Corbett was the attorney general who began an investigation of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky . A 23-page grand jury report released last weekend described crimes that Sandusky allegedly committed against young boys between 1994 and 2009 -- some of them on campus , both during and after his tenure at at Penn State . Sandusky 's attorney , Joseph Amendola , has said that his client disputes the report . In 2002 , a graduate assistant allegedly saw Sandusky raping a boy in the showers of a campus athletics facility . The graduate student , Mike McQueary , informed Joe Paterno , the team 's coach at the time , according to the grand jury report . Paterno then alerted his boss , the school 's athletic director . It was years before law enforcement first learned about the allegation . Penn State Athletic Director Timothy Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz have been charged for failing to report the abuse to authorities and misleading investigators . Prosecutors determined that a legal duty to report the alleged abuse applied to them , but not to McQueary and Paterno . Members of both political parties " have already introduced measures " to change the law , Corbett said when asked about Paterno . " And we have to make sure that the change in the law is one that is effective . It 's easy enough to take a look to see what other states have done . But I 'm sure that within the next few weeks , you will probably see bills become public . " I would n't be surprised to see if a bill was passed between now and the end of this year , " he said . McQueary , who was later promoted to a full - time assistant coach , eventually described the alleged incident in graphic detail to the grand jury . He was placed on administrative leave Friday . The grand jury report says that Schultz and Curley were " senior staff " of the university . " Pennsylvania 's mandatory reporting statute for suspected child abuse ... provides that when a staff member reports abuse ... the person in charge of the school or institution has the responsibility and legal obligation to report or cause such a report to be made by telephone and in writing within 48 hours " to the Department of Public Welfare , according to the report . " An oral report should have been made to the Centre County Children and Youth Services , " it said . Pennsylvania 's Child Protective Services Law states that anyone who , in the course of employment , " comes into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made ... when the person has reasonable cause to suspect " that the child is a victim of abuse . The law states that when the person is required to report " as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution , school , facility or agency , that person shall immediately notify the person in charge . " The person in charge ultimately has the responsibility to report the alleged incident to government authorities . Jerry McHugh , a prominent Philadelphia attorney who represents victims of abuse but is not currently representing anyone involved in the Penn State scandal , told CNN Sunday a new law is needed to state that " if you eyewitness the abuse , you have a direct obligation to go to law enforcement . " Legal analyst Holly Hughes told CNN that when Paterno told his boss and no report was given to the authorities , " that is where they failed . That 's where they fall down on the job . " There is also speculation that Pennsylvania 's whistle - blower laws may apply to , and protect , McQueary . Legal analyst and civil rights attorney Avery Friedman said the case highlights the need for " a re - examination of what is called the mandatory reporter law . "
what may pass by the end of the year?
what may pass by the end of the year ?
a bill
a bill