What's happening
This bill, known as "Erin's Law," requires New York public schools to provide instruction on preventing child sexual exploitation and abuse for grades K-8.
Why it matters
Mandates age-appropriate instruction. The bill ensures that all K-8 students receive education specifically tailored to their developmental stages, aiming to build awareness, skills, and confidence to recognize and prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Involves the wider school community. By requiring education not just for students, but also for parents and school personnel, the bill seeks to create a more comprehensive support network around children, increasing the chances that abuse is recognized and prevented.
Empowers local adaptation but ensures statewide consistency. The commissioner is tasked with defining the program in consultation with the Department of Health, ensuring expert guidance, while also allowing technical assistance for curriculum development to meet local needs.
Promotes access to resources. The Department of Education is authorized to provide model curricula and resource materials online, making it easier for schools to implement effective programs and for parents to access information.
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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
- Signed chap.187
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.542
- Substituted for A2577B
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1137
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 4070b
Show 4 earlier actions
- Amend and recommit to education
- Print number 4070a
- Amend (t) and recommit to education
- 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 to Prevent Abuse
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4070--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 27, 2019
Introduced by Sens. BIAGGI, ADDABBO, GIANARIS, GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN, JACK- SON, KAPLAN, KENNEDY, LIU, MAYER, METZGER, RAMOS, SERRANO, THOMAS -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a course of study in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Erin's Law".
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-b to read as follows:
§ 803-b. Courses of study in prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. 1. All pupils in grades K-8 in all public schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. 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 sexual abuse in grades kindergarten through eight. Such program shall include, but not be limited to students and parents. Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from making model curriculum and resource materials available on the department's website.
2. The commissioner may provide technical assistance to assist in the development of curricula for such courses of study which shall be age appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness, skills, infor-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01177-06-9
S. 4070--B 2
mation, self-confidence and support to aid in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. 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 and 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 requiring a course of study in the prevention of child sexual exploita- tion and child sexual abuse
Purpose
Enacts legislation to require the instruction of curriculum on the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse in grades kindergarten through eight.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: This act shall be known as and may be cited as "Erin's Law".
Section 2: mandates that all pupils in grades K-8 shall receive instruc- tion designed to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.
Section 3: sets the effective date.
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.
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 to students is simply too high.
Legislative history
2017-18: A.3953-A - Held for consideration in Education/S.1953-A - Passed Senate 2015-16: A.90B - Referred to Education/S.1947B - Passed Senate 2013-14: A.661A - Referred to Education/S.2367 - Passed Senate 2011-12: A.8993 - Held for consideration in Education/S.6182 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
Minimal. The state education department will continue to provide techni- cal assistance to school districts for these age-appropriate curricula.
Effective date
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 regu- lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made or completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.