“WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?”

(Anonymous Child Abuse Reporting Ban)

So Hochul must decide whether to pass or veto this bill that would ban anonymous reports to the state’s child abuse hotline. Because apparently, in this economy, even your conscience needs a name tag.

On paper, it sounds fair: stop false accusations, hold people accountable, prevent bitter neighbors or vindictive exes from calling in bogus reports.

Sure. But here’s the thing no one seems to be asking: what could possibly go wrong when you make it harder to report child abuse?

Let’s walk this out.

Say you’re a school janitor, or a 15-year-old friend, or a neighbor who notices something seriously off like a bruise, a cry for help, a locked basement. And now you have to decide: do I report this… and risk retaliation? Or do I just keep walking and pray I’m wrong?

Because if this bill passes, every tip comes with a return address. And that’s not just a formality. That’s a threat. Especially in situations involving custody battles, tight-knit communities, or kids in abusive homes who are being watched 24/7.

And here’s what’s wild: other states have tried this and it hasn’t gone great. In fact, most still allow anonymous reporting because they’ve seen what happens when you don’t. The flood of tips dries up. Abuse goes unreported. And guess what? False reports still happen. They just come with a name now and a lawsuit.

According to national data, only about 4% of child abuse reports are found to be intentionally false.

According to national data, only about 4% of child abuse reports are found to be intentionally false. Four. Percent. That means 96% of calls are made in good faith or at least worth looking into. But now we’re about to punish everyone for the bad 4%.

Look, no one wants a system where people can falsely accuse with zero consequences. But the answer isn’t to silence the other 96%. That’s not reform. That’s a warning sign.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about what happens when a kid really needs help and the one adult who noticed is too scared to speak up.