HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3178 FILED ON: 1/18/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 395
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sean Garballey
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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.
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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 |
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John P. Fresolo | 16th Worcester |
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Angelo L. D'Emilia | 8th Plymouth |
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Denise Andrews | 2nd Franklin |
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Diana DiZoglio | 14th Essex |
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Paul W. Mark | 2nd Berkshire |
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Daniel B. Winslow | 9th Norfolk |
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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
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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen
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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.
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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.