The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 REQUIRES
that all states impose a "religious exemption clause" in their
child abuse statues or lose some frederal funds. All states
did so. In California, Assembly Bill 3843, California Assembly
Speaker Pro Tempore John T. Knox (Democrat?). When Knox wrote
a letter to Ed "Jerry" Brown (August 16, 1976) urging Brown to
sign the bill into law, the letter said in part:
"Christian Science treatment[sic] is a recognized
alternative to medical attendance under Medicare,
MediCal, the group insurance for all federal and
state civil service employees, and is so recognized
by almost every group insurance company in the
United States whenever so requested by the employer."
Section 270 of the California Penal Code ("Failure to Provide")
states that one must provide "medical attendance" to ones'
children. The law was redacted to include faith-healing[sic]
and "practitioner" (a "Christian 'Science'" word) under
"alternate provider."
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