BILL ANALYSIS
By: Uresti
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Every year, there are over three million reports of suspected child abuse in this country, and of these, nearly one million of the reports are confirmed. Child abuse is a devastating problem that has far-reaching impact. Prevention is the key to this problem. The more people who are trained to identify the signs of child abuse and to prevent child abuse from occurring, the better equipped Texas becomes to tackle the problem. With teachers and other school personnel serving our children daily, teachers are doing a great job in the front lines against child abuse, but we must constantly equip them with all the latest tools and information necessary to combat this problem.
This bill requires the Texas Education Agency to maintain on its website links to information regarding the prevention of child abuse and to develop a training program related to the prevention of child abuse that a school district may use for staff development.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill amends Section 38.004, Education Code, by adding a new provision requiring the Texas Education Agency (agency) to maintain on the agency Internet website a list of links to websites that provide information regarding the prevention of child abuse; and to develop and periodically update a training program on prevention of child abuse that a school district may use for staff development.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.