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Who cares
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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the instruction of sexual abuse and sexual assault prevention in elementary and secondary schools
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill amends the education law to add a new section 815. This section creates a mandate for experts to develop age appropriate sexual abuse/assault prevention programs for all New York State elementary and secondary school students. This legislation also requires that elementary and secondary schools provide this prevention education to their students and that the teachers who are serving as the instructors for this curriculum attend training in order to ensure that the proper subject matter is addressed. Developing materials for parents to assist them in helping to keep their children safe is also a component of this bill.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of this bill adds a new section, section 815 to the education law. Subsection (i) states that the commissioner of the department of education will work in conjunction with the office of child and family services, the division of state police, and rape crisis educators to provide and prescribe a course of instruction in sexual abuse and sexual assault prevention for all elementary and secondary pupils.
Read the full memo (617 words)
Subsection (ii) states that this prevention education will be age appropriate for all student age groups and that the age appropriateness of each level of curriculum will be determined by the body of professionals that are mentioned in subsection (i). This curriculum will be taught by classroom teachers or health education teachers on an ongoing basis throughout the school year. Any teacher that is responsible for providing this instruction will be required to attend an instructor's training class. The curriculum of this class will also be established by the body of professionals that are mentioned in subsection (i).
Subsection (iii) states that this curriculum will include educational materials for parents regarding how to keep their children safe. These materials shall also be determined by the body of professionals referred to in subsection (i).
Section two of this bill states that this act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Effects of present law which this bill would alter
There is currently no existing legislation in regards to requiring elementary and secondary schools in New York State to provide sexual abuse prevention education. There is suggested curriculum that the department of education provides to school districts regarding sexual abuse prevention education; however, the details of the curriculum of this prevention education are determined by each individual school district. This legislation would develop responsible sexual abuse prevention curriculum as prescribed by experts in the field. Additionally, this bill would ensure that all New York State elementary and secondary school students receive the same high-quality prevention education.
Justification
This legislation will aid in reducing the number of incidences of childhood sexual abuse by providing elementary and secondary pupils with the most appropriate sexual abuse prevention education available, as developed by experts in the field from the department of education, the office of child and family services, the division of state police, and rape crisis educators. This required education would build on the state's requirement to address this issue within health education classes. This prevention curriculum also provides a means to further educate parents about ways to keep their children safe.
Legislative history
S.2502 of 2007 02/06/07 Referred to Education
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Unknown.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.