HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3178        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 395

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sean Garballey

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to provide child exploitation awareness education.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

1/18/2013

Joseph DiPietro, Protect Mass Children

1150 Walnut Street Newton, MA 02461

 

John P. Fresolo

16th Worcester

 

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

 

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

 

Diana DiZoglio

14th Essex

 

Paul W. Mark

2nd Berkshire

 

Daniel B. Winslow

9th Norfolk

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3178        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 395

By Mr. Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 395) of Sean Garballey and others for legislation to implement a program of instruction in the schools on child sexual abuse prevention .  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act to provide child exploitation awareness education.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Act of 2013.

SECTION  2.  This bill establishes a mandate that every school district, commonwealth charter school and non-public school shall provide age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse prevention to help students:

(a)Recognize sexually offending behaviors in adults, and signs in adults that might indicate they pose a risk to children;

(b)Recognize and prevent inappropriate, coercive or sexually abusive behaviors among students;

(c)Learn how to develop healthy and respectful interpersonal relationships;

(d)Learn to develop and maintain effective communication with trusted adults; and

(e)Learn about available school and community resources.

.

SECTION 3.  The school board of a school district shall ensure that adults employed in the schools

maintained by the district including teachers, professional support personnel, administrators, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, and paraprofessionals receive instruction on the prevention, identification, and reporting of child sexual abuse. This instruction shall include information to help school personnel:

(a)Recognize sexually offending behaviors in adults, and signs in adults that might indicate they pose a risk to children;

(b)Recognize and prevent inappropriate, coercive or sexually abusive behaviors among students;

(c)Recognize behaviors that might indicate a child has been a victim of child sexual abuse;

(d)Learn how to support the healthy development of students and the building of protective factors to mitigate against sexual victimization or perpetration; and

(e)How to establish and implement school policies that support the prevention of child sexual abuse and the appropriate reporting of suspected cases.

SECTION 4.  The school board shall also provide opportunities for school volunteers, parents, guardians, and other interested persons to receive the same information. The department of education shall make available materials and technical support to any school board that requests assistance in implementing this section.