SB 216: "An Act relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention efforts in public schools; establishing a task force in the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; and providing for an effective date."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 216 01 "An Act relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention efforts in 02 public schools; establishing a task force in the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual 03 Assault; and providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 06 to read: 07 SHORT TITLE. This Act may be known as Erin's Law. 08 * Sec. 2. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 09 Article 6A. Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention. 10 Sec. 14.30.355. Sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention. 11 (a) The governing body of each school district shall adopt and implement a policy, 12 establish a mandatory training program for employees and students, and provide 13 parent, student, and staff notices relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness 14 and prevention for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12.
01 (b) The policy, training, and notices under this section must include 02 (1) age-appropriate information; 03 (2) warning signs of sexual abuse of a child; 04 (3) referral and resource information; 05 (4) available student counseling and educational support; 06 (5) methods for increasing teacher, student, and parent awareness of 07 issues regarding sexual abuse of children; 08 (6) actions that a child may take to prevent and report sexual abuse or 09 sexual assault. 10 (c) In this section, "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.990. 11 * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 12 read: 13 SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT TRAINING ADVISORY TASK 14 FORCE. (a) The Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Training Advisory Task Force is 15 established in the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, established in the 16 Department of Public Safety under AS 18.66.010, for the purpose of reviewing and making 17 recommendations to school boards and the legislature on the training program required under 18 AS 14.30.355, enacted by sec. 2 of this Act. The task force shall consider curriculum 19 materials, a timeline for implementation, the costs of implementation, and cultural and other 20 differences in various areas of the state, and shall conduct a survey of current efforts in child 21 sexual abuse prevention and best practices for providing student and staff training in public 22 schools. 23 (b) The task force consists of members of the Council on Domestic Violence 24 and Sexual Assault and members appointed by the governor by August 30, 2014, as 25 follows: 26 (1) one member from the Association of Alaska School Boards; 27 (2) one member who is a licensed school psychologist or school nurse 28 in the state; 29 (3) one member who is a public school principal or superintendent 30 from Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau; 31 (4) one member who is a public school principal or superintendent
01 from a regional educational attendance area in a rural area of the state; 02 (5) one member who is a public school teacher from Anchorage, 03 Fairbanks, or Juneau; 04 (6) one member who is a public school teacher from a regional 05 educational attendance area in a rural area of the state; 06 (7) one member of a children's advocacy center in the state. 07 (c) The president of the senate shall appoint one member of the senate, and the 08 speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member of the house to serve 09 as ex officio members of the task force. 10 (d) The members of the task force serve without compensation but are entitled 11 to travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. 12 (e) The task force shall select a chair from among its members, shall meet by 13 August 30, 2014, may meet as frequently as necessary but not less than four times, and 14 may meet and vote by teleconference. 15 (f) The Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault shall, at the request 16 of the chair, provide reasonable assistance with staff, supplies, equipment, and other 17 appropriate items. The task force may accept private donations that may be 18 appropriated to the task force to carry out the purposes of the task force. 19 (g) The task force shall hold public hearings and use other means to solicit 20 information from state residents and experts in sexual abuse and sexual assault and 21 from experts in providing training. 22 (h) The task force shall submit to the governor and the legislature a progress 23 report by January 1, 2015, and findings and recommendations by June 30, 2015. 24 (i) The task force terminates July 1, 2015. 25 * Sec. 4. Section 3 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 26 * Sec. 5. Section 2 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2016.