Senator Werner Launches Task Force to Strengthen Child Safety Reporting Laws
- Arizona Senate Republicans
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Senator Werner Launches Task Force to Strengthen
Child Safety Reporting Laws
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Determined to close dangerous gaps in Arizona's child protection system, Arizona State Senator Carine Werner is announcing the creation of a new task force to strengthen the state's child abuse reporting laws.
The decision comes after a meeting between Senator Werner and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell last week, prompted by the death of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste and the ongoing probe into the state's child safety system. Rebekah's father and his girlfriend now face murder and child abuse charges after numerous reports were made to the Arizona Department of Child Safety by Rebekah's school over concerns for her wellbeing prior to the killing.
The task force will bring together child welfare experts, law enforcement, prosecutors, and legislators to review current laws – including reporting laws under Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) § 8-455 – as well as the specific steps taken in this and other cases, including whether joint investigation protocols were followed. This effort will build on the work of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety, which continues to examine systemic failures and will hold its next stakeholder meeting on September 3.
"Rebekah's death is the most painful reminder that when red flags are raised, they must never be ignored," said Senator Werner. "If the laws and protocols are written to prevent authorities from acting when children are in clear danger, then those laws and protocols must change. This is a first step in making our state's child safety system effective with protecting vulnerable kids from harm. Our task force will work urgently to ensure Arizona's laws and protocols are followed to protect children first, not bureaucracy."
The task force begins its work immediately and will create preliminary recommendations to help create legislative reforms in the upcoming 2026 session.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus