NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4518

Senate Bill S4518

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires courses of study in private schools in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to education
Feb 09, 2023	referred to education

2023-S4518 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A302
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §803-b, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7582, A9845
2021-2022: S400, A3688

2023-S4518 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires courses of study in private schools in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse for pupils in grades K-8.

2023-S4518 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4518

SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the teaching
of courses in the prevention of child abuse at private schools

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Expands the requirement that schools provide child sexual exploitation
and child sexual abuse education in grades kindergarten through eighth
to private schools.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends 803-b of the education law, as added by chapter 187 of
the laws of 2019 to include private schools.

Section 2 sets forth the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

New York recently passed landmark legislation known as Erin's Law to
require all public schools to provide age appropriate child exploitation
and child abuse prevention education for K-8 students.  Many young
people suffering abuse or exploitation are unaware of when and from whom
to seek help. The curriculum mandated by Erin's Law will empower
students to speak up if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable and ensure
that they have the language and knowledge they need to get help.

However, there are almost 450,000 students across New York State who
attend non-public schools, according to an estimate by the New York
State Department of Education, who remain unprotected. This legislation
would expand Erin's Law to non-public schools, to ensure that every
student in New York State receives preventative education around child
sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse can lead to lifelong trauma. This legislation will
ensure that every child in New York has the knowledge they need to get
help and it will remind them that they do not have to suffer in silence.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S400 / A3688

2020: S7582 / A9845

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.

2023-S4518 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4518
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 9, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the teaching
   of courses in the prevention of child abuse at private schools
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 803-b of  the  education  law,  as
 added by chapter 187 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  All  pupils in grades K-8 in all public AND PRIVATE schools in the
 state shall receive instruction designed to prevent child sexual exploi-
 tation 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 materi-
 als available on the department's website.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01305-01-3

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