By 1968, 50 States had enacted mandatory reporting legislation. During the 1970's, lawmakers responded to procedural deficiencies in earlier statutes by refining reporting and investigatory processes. Resulting laws expanded mandatory reporters; extended areas of reportable maltreatment to include neglect, sexual abuse, and mental or emotional abuse; created penalties for failure to report; and designated child protective services as the lead agency for reports. In the 1980's, legislators have responded to increased pressure on the child protection system resulting from the explosion of abuse and neglect reports. Such legislation has focused on further improving procedures for protecting children, refining criminal definitions and penalties, and safeguarding child victims and witnesses. Overall, new directions in State legislation can be expected to emphasize approaches that are more comprehensive and cost-effective, but there will continue to be substantial attention to refinements in basic reporting and investigation statutes along with procedural changes. Graphic representation.