What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to implement child sexual abuse prevention programs for grades K-8, including curriculum, resources, and public access to materials.
Why it matters
Establishes a collaborative approach. by requiring the education commissioner to work with the health department and expert organizations, ensuring that programs reflect current best practices and scientific understanding of child sexual abuse prevention.
Mandates age-appropriate, evidence-based curriculum and resources. for students, parents, and school personnel, aiming to empower not just children, but also adults in school communities, to recognize, prevent, and respond to warning signs of abuse.
Promotes transparency and access. by making all prevention and educational materials publicly available online at no cost, allowing parents and the wider community to review and understand what is being taught and to reinforce lessons at home.
Ensures ongoing relevance and accountability. through periodic updates to the curriculum and annual reminders to schools, helping to keep the information timely in response to evolving threats and research in child protection.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Kids to Prevent Abuse
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1702
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 1953a
- Amend (t) and recommit to education
- Referred to education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
Show 5 earlier actions
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.367
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Teach Kids Abuse Prevention
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1953--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. KLEIN, ADDABBO, AVELLA, CARLUCCI, COMRIE, HANNON, LARKIN, PARKER, SAVINO, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to child sexual abuse awareness
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 57 to read as follows:
57. a. The commissioner shall consult and collaborate with the commissioner of health and appropriate organizations that have expertise in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse, as well as other interested parties, to establish and develop a program within the department related to the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse in grades kindergarten through eight. Such program shall be defined by the commissioner in regulations after consultation with the department of health and be designed to educate students, parents and school personnel about the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse in grades kindergarten through eight. Such program shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) age-appropriate model curriculum, exemplar lesson plans, and best practice instructional resources for students, parents and school personnel designed to promote the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse. Such model curriculum, lesson plans and instructional resources shall include but not be limited to guidelines and methods of prevention, including recommendations to address this issue;
(ii) instructional tools and materials for students, parents and school personnel developed in collaboration with the commissioner of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03175-06-8
S. 1953--A 2
health, which shall include updated data and information on the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse, with a review of such data and information to occur periodically, at intervals deemed appropriate by the commissioner and the commissioner of health; and
(iii) public availability of all materials related to such awareness, prevention and education programs on a dedicated webpage on the department's internet website, and provided at no cost to every school district, board of cooperative educational services, charter school and nonpublic school upon request.
b. The commissioner shall issue a guidance memorandum to every school district, board of cooperative educational services, charter school and nonpublic school, to inform them of the availability of the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse program. The commissioner shall annually remind school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, charter schools and nonpublic schools, of the availability of prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse materials in grades kindergarten through eight.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made or completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to child sexual abuse awareness
Purpose
Enacts legislation to require the provision of instruction to prevent child sexual exploitation and child abuse in grades kindergarten through eight.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends Education Law section 305 by adding a new subdivision 57 to provide that the Commissioner shall consult with the Department of Health and other appropriate organizations that have expertise in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child abuse, to establish and develop a program within the department to help prevent such child sexual exploitation and child abuse in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Such program shall be defined in regulations and designed to educate students, parents and school personnel about the prevention of such child sexual exploitation and abuse. Such age-appropriate model curriculum, exemplar lesson plans, and best practice instructional resources for students, parents, and school personnel shall be designed to promote the prevention of such exploitation and abuse. Such informa- tion and course materials related to such awareness, prevention, and education programs shall be placed on its own dedicated webpage. Further, the Commissioner shall issue a guidance memorandum to every school district, BOCES, charter school, and nonpublic school of the availability of such prevention program.
Read the full memo (823 words)
Existing law
Section 305 of the education law established the powers and duties of the commissioner of education.
Justification
Awareness of the epidemic of child sexual abuse has come a long way since section 803-a was enacted in 1994 and quality school safety programs are already evolving to teach children that abduction by stran- gers is not the only, or the most common, danger they face. Like other sex crimes, most child sexual abuse is committed by people who know their victims. Trusted acquaintances are most often the perpetrators, followed by family members and then strangers. Updating the language of New York's education requirement to reflect the current understanding of both the sources and warning signs of child predation will help ensure that more children receive practical and age-appropriate instruction that they can incorporate into their daily lives.
As more and more abuse victims of all ages are coming forward to share stories of horrifying abuses, we are regularly reminded of our sacred obligation to prepare the next generation of children to meet life's major challenges. Despite greater openness about these crimes, feelings of shame or stigma still keep many victims and witnesses silent. Many young people suffering abuse or exploitation are still unaware of when and from whom to seek help. Concerned parents may not even know about the latest techniques being used by predators to meet and groom their victims through electronic communications, the Internet and social media.
Expanding the required instruction under section 305 to encompass child sexual exploitation and child abuse prevention will require the Educa- tion Department to make revisions to its technical advisories but it need not require districts to devote any additional time or staffing resources to student safety instruction. With our growing understanding of the many dangers facing our children and the lifelong injuries sexual abuse and exploitation can inflict, the cost of not providing this vital safety information is simply too high.
Legislative history
This bill, Erin Merryn's Law, is dedicated to her commitment and work to increase public awareness on the issue of unreported sexual abuse and exploitation of children. This is a situation that she faced when she was a child. In the case of Erin Merryn, she experienced sexual exploi- tation and molestation by her neighbor from the age of six to eight, and then from age 11 to 13 was sexually molested by her older cousin. She remained silent about her situation for so long because nobody had educated her or her contemporaries about concepts such as safe touch, unsafe touch, safe secrets, and unsafe secrets. Further, about methodol- ogies to identify and stay away from potential sexual abusers and how to get away from actual or potential abusers should a situation arise. In addition, to be made aware of information and guidance about how to seek help and inform others about an abusive or potentially sexually exploi- tive or abusive situation.
2012: A similar bill S. 6182 - Passed Senate and it is based on similar language to chapter 417 of the Laws of 2014. The amendment of this bill to a "B" Print was to renumber subdivision 53 to 55 based on alterations to this law from chapters enacted into law in 2015. 2015/2016 - S. 1947-B was revised again and then re-Passed Senate. In 2017, S. 1953-A was revised again and Passed the Senate 62-0.
Fiscal implications
Minimal. The state education department will continue to provide techni- cal assistance to school districts for this age-appropriate curricula.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on July 1st of the year next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.