Bill Text: MS SB2133 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Erin's Law; create study committee to study implementation of curriculum based on.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-04-24 - Approved by Governor [SB2133 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2013-SB2133-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Education; Public Health and Welfare
By: Senator(s) Collins
Senate Bill 2133
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO CREATE THE ERIN'S LAW STUDY COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A CURRICULUM FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Erin's Law Study Committee for the purpose of studying the possibility of creating and implementing a curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse of children in the State of Mississippi. The study committee shall be comprised of the following six (6) members:
(a) Three (3) members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, one (1) of whom shall be the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee; and
(b) Three (3) members of the House, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one (1) of whom shall be the Chairman of the House Education Committee.
(2) The study committee shall determine the feasibility of the benefit provided to local school districts and the students therein of adopting a curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse for students from Kindergarten through Grade 5. The curriculum evaluated by members of the study committee shall:
(a) Be evidence-based;
(b) Be age-appropriate and culturally sensitive;
(c) Include a minimum of four (4) programs to be conducted during the school year;
(d) Include a professional training component for administrators, teachers and other school personnel on talking to students about child sexual abuse prevention, the effects of child sexual abuse on children, handling disclosures and mandated reporting; and
(e) Include a component that encourages parental involvement in child sexual abuse prevention.
(3) Appointments to the study committee must be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. The study committee shall hold its first meeting not later than August 1, 2013, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated by the Governor. At the first meeting, the study committee shall elect from among its membership a chairman, vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary, who must organize the study committee for business and determine the date, time and location of its next meeting.
(4) Members of the study committee shall be reimbursed from the contingent expense fund of their respective house, but only with the specific approval of the Rules Committee of the respective house. The study committee, by approval of a majority of its membership, may accept funds that may be donated or provided in the form of grants from public or private sources.
(5) The State Department of Education shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the study committee to perform its duties. Any department, agency or court of this state, at the request of the chairman of the study committee, must cooperate with the study committee in the performance of its duties.
(6) The study committee shall submit a written report setting forth its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature before January 1, 2014, at which time the study committee will be dissolved.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
