REFERENCE TITLE: schools; sexual abuse prevention program.

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

HB 2392

Introduced by Representatives Hernandez: Engel

 

AN ACT

 

amending Title 15, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-153; relating to child safety.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Title 15, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-153, to read:

START_STATUTE15-153.  Statewide child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program; program termination

A.  On or before July 1, 2019, the department of child safety, in collaboration with the department of education, shall identify or develop a statewide child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program for use by local education agencies in each public school.  This program shall include:

1.  For teachers, instructional modules that may include the following:

(a)  Training regarding the prevention and identification of, and responses to, child sexual abuse and assault.

(b)  Resources to further student, teacher and parental awareness regarding child sexual abuse and assault and the prevention of child sexual abuse and assault.

2.  For students, age-appropriate educational materials that are designed for children in kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve regarding child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention and that may include instruction in:

(a)  Skills to recognize the following:

(i)  Child sexual abuse and assault.

(ii)  Boundary violations and unwanted forms of contact.

(b)  Strategies that:

(i)  Promote disclosure.

(ii)  Reduce self-blame.

(iii)  Mobilize bystanders.

3.  A uniform child sexual abuse and assault response policy and reporting procedure that may include:

(a)  Actions that victims of child sexual abuse and assault may take to obtain assistance.

(b)  Intervention and counseling options for victims of child sexual abuse and assault.

(c)  Access to educational resources to enable victims of child sexual abuse and assault to succeed in school.

(d)  Uniform procedures for reporting instances of child sexual abuse and assault to school staff members.

b.  On or before October 1, 2019, each local education agency shall implement the statewide Child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program identified or developed pursuant to subsection a of this section.

c.  A local or regional board of education may not require a student in a kindergarten program or any of grades one through twelve to participate in the statewide child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program offered by a public school.  Written notification to the local education agency from the student's parent or legal guardian is sufficient to exempt the student from this program in its entirety or from any portion of the program that the parent or legal guardian specifies.

D.  The program established pursuant to this section ends on July 1, 2028 pursuant to section 41-3102. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Short title

This act may be cited as "Erin's Law".