Requires the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to instruction on preventing child sexual exploitation and child abuse in grades kindergarten through eight.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2577B
SPONSOR: Dinowitz (MS) 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 Amends Education Law by adding a new section 803-b to provide
that courses of study in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and
child sexual abuse be received by all pupils in grades K-8. 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. Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from making
model curriculum and resource materials available on the department's
website.
The commissioner may provide technical assistance 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, information, self-
confidence and support to aid in the prevention of child sexual exploi-
tation and child sexual assault.
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. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, 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.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2577--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 24, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED, PAULIN, SIMOTAS, COOK,
COLTON, ENGLEBRIGHT, GUNTHER, TITUS, WALKER, RODRIGUEZ, MALLIOTAKIS,
L. ROSENTHAL, CRUZ, REYES, HEVESI, SIMON, DICKENS, JAFFEE, LIFTON,
SMITH, SEAWRIGHT, McDONOUGH, TAYLOR, JOYNER -- Multi-Sponsored by --
M. of A. ABBATE, ARROYO, BARCLAY, FAHY, GIGLIO, LAVINE, ORTIZ, RA,
RAIA, THIELE -- read once and referred 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 commit-
tee
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 Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Erin's Law".
2 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-b to
3 read as follows:
4 § 803-b. Courses of study in prevention of child sexual exploitation
5 and child sexual abuse. 1. All pupils in grades K-8 in all public
6 schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent child
7 sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. Such program shall be
8 defined by the commissioner in regulations after consultation with the
9 department of health and be designed to educate students, parents and
10 school personnel about the prevention of child sexual exploitation and
11 child sexual abuse in grades kindergarten through eight. Such program
12 shall include, but not be limited to students and parents. Nothing in
13 this section shall prevent the department from making model curriculum
14 and resource materials available on the department's website.
15 2. The commissioner may provide technical assistance to assist in the
16 development of curricula for such courses of study which shall be age
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01177-07-9
A. 2577--B 2
1 appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils
2 at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness, skills, infor-
3 mation, self-confidence and support to aid in the prevention of child
4 sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.
5 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
6 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
7 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
8 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
9 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
