Bill Text: MS SB2133 | 2013 | Regular Session | Engrossed
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-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Education; Public Health and Welfare
By: Senator(s) Collins
Senate Bill 2133
(As Passed the Senate)
AN ACT TO CREATE "ERIN'S LAW"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS TO IMPLEMENT CURRICULUM FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE FOR CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO CREATE THE ERIN'S LAW TASK FORCE TO ADOPT A CURRICULUM NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2015; TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CURRICULUM; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM BEGINNING WITH THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR; TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CHOOSE AN ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM; TO ALLOW PARENTS TO OPT-OUT OF THE CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN DISTRICT AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO BE DESIGNATED WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ERIN'S LAW; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPORTING OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH ERIN'S LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Erin's Law."
SECTION 2. (1) There is created the Erin's Law Task Force for the purpose of creating and implementing curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse for children in the State of Mississippi. The task force shall be comprised of the following six (6) members:
(a) The Executive Director of the Children's Justice Center, or his designee;
(b) The State Superintendent of Education, or his designee;
(c) The Attorney General, or his designee;
(d) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, or his designee;
(e) The Lieutenant Governor, or his designee, as an advisory, nonvoting member; and
(f) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee, as an advisory, nonvoting member.
(2) The task force shall adopt curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse for students from Kindergarten through Fifth Grade no later than January 1, 2015. The curriculum 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) The curriculum adopted by the task force shall be made available on the Children's Justice Center website and shall be updated by the Children's Justice Center in consultation with the State Department of Education, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the Attorney General's Office, as necessary to effectuate the purpose of this act. There shall be no cost to the school districts to access the website and curriculum.
(4) Each school district in the state is required to implement the curriculum beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
However, the school board of any school district may choose to implement an alternative curriculum that meets the criteria under subsection (2) of this section if that curriculum is approved by the Children's Justice Center in consultation with the State Department of Education, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the Attorney General's Office, and the costs are incurred by the school district.
(5) Each school district shall provide the parents or guardians of each student with written notice of the opportunity to opt-out of the curriculum required under this section or an alternative curriculum adopted by a school district under subsection (3) of this section. If the parents or guardians of a student opt-out of the curriculum in accordance with the written notice, the school district shall not provide the curriculum instruction to that student.
(6) The superintendent of each school district shall designate one of the district's personnel for responsibility for the district's compliance with this act. The principal of each school shall designate one of the school's personnel for responsibility for the school's compliance with this act.
(7) Any school district not in compliance with this section shall be reported by the Children's Justice Center to the State Department of Education and the Legislature by January 1 of each school year beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2013.
