Sep. 10, 2025
HARRISBURG – Continuing his commitment to protecting vulnerable children in Fayette County and across the state, Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) is seeking co-sponsors for legislation to make comprehensive improvements to Pennsylvania’s Children and Youth Services (CYS) system. He is also working on a bill to increase penalties in extreme abuse cases.
Warner is calling the CYS improvement measure “Renesmay’s Law,” after 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey, who police allege was killed by her foster mother and her foster mother’s wife last week in Dunbar.
“Based on recent tragic events in Fayette County, it is painfully clear that we must do more to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” Warner said. “As parents, neighbors and legislators, we must do all we can to ensure no child slips through unnoticed when they are in danger.”
This legislation would increase accountability and oversight of county CYS agencies; strengthen recordkeeping, case history and in-home oversight; improve caseworker support and workload management; enhance training and coordination among available services; and expand reporting and response requirements.
“While no law can eliminate evil, we have a duty to ensure that the systems designed to protect children are as strong and responsive as possible,” Warner said.
The lawmaker is also continuing his work on legislation to expand criminal penalties for extreme cases of child abuse and child sexual abuse, up to and including the death penalty. The measure would build on his
House Bill 1837, which would establish the offense of child torture and assign penalties.
“No punishment is too harsh for people who treat precious children as if they aren’t even human beings,” Warner said. “In the tragic cases when abuse occurs, we must give our law enforcement officers all the tools they need to ensure people are held accountable for their actions and justice is served for the victims.”
Warner plans to introduce the bills in the near future.
Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
RepWarner.com