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REFERENCE TITLE: child abuse prevention education; schools |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018
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HB 2502 |
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Introduced by Representatives Boyer: Coleman, Weninger, Senators Bradley, Brophy McGee
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AN ACT
Amending title 15, chapter 7, article 1, arizona revised statutes, by adding section 15-712.02; relating to curricula.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-712.02, to read:
15-712.02. Education and training on child abuse prevention; students; school employees; posting; opt‑out
A. Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, school districts and charter schools shall establish education and training on child abuse prevention for employees and students in the elementary and secondary grades.
B. The education and training established pursuant to this section shall include annual developmental and age-appropriate, research–based child abuse prevention training designed to promote self-protection and accountability and to prevent the abuse of children, including sexual abuse.
C. Each school district and charter school may choose the delivery method of the education and training prescribed in this section for employees and students. The instruction shall:
1. Use a developmental and age-appropriate, research-based curriculum to teach children abuse-prevention and risk-reduction strategies, including:
(a) How to identify dangerous situations.
(b) How to identify personal boundary violations.
(c) How to Be sure they are safe by checking with an adult.
(d) How to resist dangerous approaches and invitations.
(e) How to summon help.
(f) What to do if abuse occurs.
2. Encourage parental involvement within the abuse-prevention training, including information on child abuse prevention, risk-reduction techniques, abuse reporting and support service availability.
D. To provide the education and training required under this section, a school district or charter school may develop its own training or may work in conjunction with a community organization that has an existing research-based curriculum and that has at least a twenty‑year history of providing comprehensive services to prevent child abuse and providing services and advocacy for victims of child abuse. The district or charter school may pay for the cost of the training or may enter into an agreement with a qualifying community organization to provide the training at no cost to the school district or charter school.
E. School districts and charter schools shall ensure that each student who is enrolled in the school district or charter school attends the education and training each year and shall provide at least two opportunities each year for students to attend the education and training required during that year.
F. Education and training on prevention techniques for and recognition of child abuse, including sexual abuse, and procedures for a child who is at risk for abuse to seek assistance shall be provided for all new school district and charter school employees as part of a new employee's orientation and for existing employees on a schedule adopted by the school district or charter school.
G. At a minimum, the education and training required under this section for school district and charter school employees shall include information regarding all of the following:
1. Factors indicating that a child is at risk for abuse.
2. Likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of abuse.
3. Internal procedures for a child who is at risk for abuse to seek assistance.
4. Methods for reducing a child's risk of being a victim of abuse.
H. Teachers and administrators who receive prevention training on issues concerning child abuse pursuant to Section 15-218 satisfy the requirements of this section for the academic year in which they receive the training.
I. Each school district and charter school shall include a description of the education and training prescribed by this section either in an informational handbook or on the school district's or charter school's website.
J. Each school that is operated by a school district and each charter school shall post a sign that:
1. Is in a clearly visible location.
2. Is in a public area of the school.
3. Is readily accessible to students.
4. Is placed at students' eye level.
5. Is at least eleven inches by seventeen inches.
6. Contains the following in English and in Spanish and in large print:
(a) The telephone number in boldfaced type of the centralized intake hotline concerning suspected abuse and neglect of children that is established pursuant to section 8-455.
(b) Instructions to call 911 for emergencies.
(c) Directions for accessing the website of the department of child safety for more information on reporting child abuse, child neglect and the exploitation of children.
K. School districts and charter schools may use grant monies allocated pursuant to the every student succeeds act (P.L. 114–95; 129 stat. 1802; 20 United States Code sections 7101 through 7165) for the purposes prescribed in this section.
L. This section does not require sex education beyond the requirements of section 15-711.
M. On written request to the principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled, the parent or guardian of a pupil who is under eighteen years of age may review the materials for the education and training required by this section. Parents may opt their child out of the education and training required by this section regardless of whether they make a written request to review the materials.
N. This section does not void or impair any right guaranteed to parents by section 15-102.