| 5/24/2007 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Cherie Dattilo of Madison, joins Gov. Mitch Daniels, right, for his ceremonial signing of “Molly’s Law” on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Behind them stand families who have lost a loved one. “Molly’s Law,” named after Cherie Dattilo’s missing daughter, Molly Dattilo, will provide more guidelines for police in searching for missing adults. |
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| In another bill signing, the governor congratulates Madison’s Hunter Sego for his role in working for legislation that allows children with diabetes to carry their own supplies while in school and also allows for the training of non-medical personnel to administer treatment. (Photo submitted by the Sego family) |
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Madison families work for new state laws
Making A Difference
‘Molly’s Law’ will facilitate missing person searches
Donovan Estridge
Courier Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - Surrounded by families who lost so much, Gov. Mitch Daniels ceremoniously signed "Molly's Law" on Wednesday.
The law, named after missing Madison native Molly Dattilo, will give police more guidelines in searching for missing adults. Though it was officially signed into law last month, the governor chose to have a mock signing of the law.
While the event was symbolic, it meant the same to the families.
"Today is such a special day for our family," Keri Dattilo said. "This is good for all the families who have lost hope until this legislation went through."
Keri Dattilo, Molly Dattilo's cousin and a contingent of friends from Madison were instrumental in shepherding the bill through the General Assembly. While they were happy to see the bill signed into law, Keri Dattilo was equally moved to see Molly's mother, Cherie Dattilo, come to Indianapolis to witness the occasion.
"This might be Molly's last mission in life," Cherie Dattilo said. "I hope this helps other missing adults."
One of the family members attending the signing was Dale Steffey, the father of 19-year-old Wade Steffey, who was reported missing from Purdue University in January. During the search for Steffey, his family jumped on board to help the bill get through the legislature. Even after Purdue officials found Wade Steffey's body, the family still believed in the importance of the legislation.
"His disappearance gave us a voice," Dale Steffey said. "We hoped to use that voice to express the importance of the bill. This was the least we could do to help."
Steffey family members said they had a good experience with law enforcement, but other family members said they deserved more. But after talking to lawmakers and the governor, every family said they believe they now have a voice.
One of those voices came from Stacy Crabtree of Rossville, whose mother was reported missing in December 2005 and was found dead nearly two months later in early 2006.
"It's an exhilarating experience," Crabtree said of the bill signing. "This will give families in the future some hope."
When the bill was working its way through legislative committees, the emotional testimony of Indiana families moved some lawmakers to tears.
The bill's sponsor, State Rep. Dave Cheatham, D-North Vernon, was one of the lawmakers who became emotional during testimony.
"State government does listen to the people," Cheatham said. "The bill will save lives, and that is important. This is a people bill."
Molly's Law will take effect July 1.
"We are anxious for that day," Keri Dattilo said.
‘Hunter’s Law’ will allow children to get medical care they require while in school
Courier Staff Report
Madison's Hunter Sego, a student at Lydia Middleton Elementary School, watched this week as Gov. Mitch Daniels signed "Hunter's Law," legislation that will help children with diabetes get the care they need while in school.
"When things got tough, you did what was necessary to help thousands of students with diabetes. This is easy legislation to sign because it just makes sense," Daniels told Sego.
Daniels said that with a shortage of school nurses and dollars to pay for nurses in schools, having volunteers and allowing diabetic children to carry their supplies with them at all times, puts us in a better position to help keep our children safer while they have more opportunity to learn.
The impact of this law has quickly spread throughout the country. The American Diabetes Association has released the American Nurses Association new position in accordance with the law.
Many states have already contacted Sego's mother, Kathy, to see how they can enact the same law, modeling it around the work done at Lydia Middleton Elementary.
While the Sego family says there are many people to thank for supporting the effort, they say the fourth grade class was critical in the process for writing to local representatives and senators seeking their support.
The American Nurses Association has taken action in support of Hunter's Law. The group now advocates for more school nurses, but also urged school nurses to take advantage of their ability to train and supervise other school personnel in the tasks needed to assist students.
The new statement recognizes that in today's school environment a safe model of school health care delivery is one in which a school nurse may safely delegate care tasks to unlicensed personnel.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2007
Article comment by:
Cheryl Torline
Tuesday May 22 was a big day for Jefferson County and for all Hoosiers - Congratulations to all those who worked to enact both "Molly's Law" and "Hunter's Law"! Representative Dave Cheatham makes sure his contituents voices are heard loud and clear in Indianapolis.
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