What's happening
This bill requires all New York public schools to provide health education on recognizing, avoiding, and reporting sexual abuse and assault.
Why it matters
Mandates age-appropriate education. Ensures that instruction about sexual abuse and assault is tailored for both elementary and secondary students, making the content relevant and understandable for different age groups.
Expands teacher responsibilities and training. Requires classroom teachers or certified health teachers to deliver this content, and mandates that all teachers involved receive specific training and curriculum materials, which could affect teacher preparation and professional development requirements.
Standardizes health education practices statewide. By embedding these topics as an integral part of health education, the bill aims to establish consistent standards across all public schools, potentially reducing disparities in how students are taught to recognize and respond to sexual abuse and assault.
Enables quicker implementation. Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to immediately develop necessary rules and regulations, aiming for a timely rollout and minimizing bureaucratic delays in protecting students.
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Who cares
Public schools
They would have to include instruction on recognizing, avoiding, refusing and reporting sexual abuse and assault as an integral part of health education.
Classroom and health education teachers
Elementary instruction could be taught by regular classroom teachers or certified health teachers, while secondary instruction would require certified health teachers, with teachers provided appropriate training and curriculum materials.
Public school students
They would receive sexual abuse and assault prevention and reporting instruction, with age-appropriate instruction specified for elementary grades.
State education commissioner
The bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations needed to implement the requirements.
Headline styles
Teach Kids About Sexual Abuse
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
533
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, AUBRY, ARROYO, COLTON, ROZIC, MOSLEY, JAFFEE, SALADINO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CUSICK, ENGLE- BRIGHT, GOTTFRIED, LIFTON, LUPARDO, ORTIZ, RAMOS, RIVERA, TITONE -read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to instruction regarding the prevention and reporting of sexual abuse and assault
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-b to read as follows:
§ 803-b. Health education regarding prevention of sexual abuse and assault. 1. All public schools shall include, as an integral part of health education, instruction concerning the recognition, avoidance, refusal and reporting of incidences of sexual abuse and assault. Such instruction shall reflect current practices and standards in the prevention of sexual abuse and assault of children.
2. Age appropriate instruction concerning the recognition, avoidance, refusal and reporting of incidences of sexual abuse and assault included in the health education provided to students at the elementary school grades may be taught by a regular classroom teacher or by a certified teacher holding a certificate to teach health education. Instruction concerning the recognition, avoidance, refusal and reporting of incidences of sexual abuse and assault included in the health education provided to students at the secondary school grades shall be taught by teachers certified to teach health education.
3. Teachers shall be provided with the appropriate training and curricula materials concerning the avoidance and reporting of child sexual abuse and assault.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, provided, however, that effective immediately the commissioner of education is authorized to adopt any rules or regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02900-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.