Senate Bill S130

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S130

 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.

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.