Bill Text: CA SCR73 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: School districts: child sexual abuse curriculum.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-08-24 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 87, Statutes of 2012. [SCR73 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SCR73-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 73	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Yee

                        MARCH 13, 2012

   Relative to school districts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 73, as introduced, Yee. Child sexual abuse curriculum.
   This measure would declare that the Legislature encourages school
districts to include instruction related to child sexual abuse in
their curriculum in order to help pupils understand the difference
between appropriate and inappropriate conduct in situations where
child sexual abuse could occur, and to provide pupils with resources
on how to handle these potentially dangerous situations.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Child sexual abuse has become the subject of great
community concern and the focus of many legislative and professional
initiatives, as evidenced by the expanding body of literature on
sexual abuse, public declarations by adult survivors, and increased
media coverage of sexual abuse issues; and
   WHEREAS, Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a
year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater because
the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the
legal procedure for validating an episode is difficult; and
   WHEREAS, Child sexual abuse can take place within the home, by a
parent, stepparent, sibling, or other relative, as well as outside of
the home by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or
stranger; and
   WHEREAS, A child five years of age or older who knows and cares
for the abuser often becomes trapped between affection or loyalty
towards the abuser and the sense that the sexual activities are
terribly wrong. If the child attempts to break away from the sexual
relationship, the abuser may threaten the child with violence or loss
of love, and when the sexual abuse occurs within the family, the
child may fear anger, jealousy, the shame of other family members, or
that the family will break up if the secret is told; and
   WHEREAS, The first indicators of sexual abuse may not be physical,
but rather behavioral changes or abnormalities. Often there are no
obvious external signs of child sexual abuse, and many signs can only
be detected through a physical examination by a physician; and
   WHEREAS, A child is not psychologically prepared to cope with
repeated sexual stimulation, and can develop a variety of distressing
feelings, thoughts, and behaviors resulting from the inability to
cope with the overstimulation; and
   WHEREAS, The effects of sexual abuse extend far beyond childhood,
since a child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually
develops low self-esteem and a feeling of worthlessness, and may
become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults; and
   WHEREAS, Many sexually abused children have difficulty relating to
others except on sexual terms, may themselves become child abusers
or have other serious problems when they reach adulthood, and often
develop an abnormal or distorted view of sex that can lead to
difficulty with intimate relationships later in life; and
   WHEREAS, If childhood sexual abuse is not treated, long-term
symptoms can go on through adulthood, including, but not limited to,
post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and thoughts of
suicide, sexual anxiety and disorders, low self-esteem, and unhealthy
behaviors such as alcohol, drug, self-harm, or eating problems; and
   WHEREAS, Sexually abused children and their families need
immediate professional evaluation and treatment in order to help the
abused children regain a sense of self-esteem, cope with feelings of
guilt about the abuse, and begin the process of overcoming the
trauma; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby encourages school
districts to include instruction related to child sexual abuse in
their curriculum in order to help pupils understand the difference
between appropriate and inappropriate conduct in situations where
child sexual abuse could occur, and to provide pupils with resources
on how to handle these potentially dangerous situations; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.