Bill Text: NJ S408 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Directs school districts to establish policies and require training for employees on issues regarding child sexual abuse.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-06-21 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [S408 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S408-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 408

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH PENNACCHIO

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Turner

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Directs school districts to establish policies and require training for employees on issues regarding child sexual abuse.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Education Committee on June 14, 2018, with amendments.

 

An Act concerning child sexual abuse awareness and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      1.   a.  A school district shall establish a policy designed to increase staff, student, and parent awareness of sexual abuse of children.  The policy shall address issues including knowledge of warning signs that a child may be a sexual abuse victim, prevention techniques, actions that a child victim should take to obtain assistance, and available counseling options for students affected by sexual abuse.

      b.   A school district's policy under subsection a. of this section shall require that teachers and other school employees complete training which includes, at a minimum, information regarding the following:

      (1) factors indicating that a child is at risk for sexual abuse;

      (2) recognition of warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse;

      (3) internal procedures for seeking assistance for a child who is a victim of sexual abuse or is at risk for sexual abuse, including referral to a school counselor, social worker, or another mental health professional; and

      (4) techniques for reducing a child's risk of sexual abuse.

      c.   A teaching staff member may satisfy in each ¹annual¹ professional development ¹[cycle] period¹ one or more hours of the professional development requirement established by the State Board of Education through participation in training programs on child sexual abuse awareness and prevention.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.