By: Parker (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 1041

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2009; May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 21, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1041 By: Van de Putte

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to school district policies addressing sexual abuse of children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as Jenna's Law.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 38.0041 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.0041. POLICIES ADDRESSING SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN. (a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse of children to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252.

(b) A policy required by this section must address:

(1) methods for increasing teacher, student, and parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of children, including knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse, using resources developed by the agency under Section 38.004;

(2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual abuse should take to obtain assistance and intervention; and

(3) available counseling options for students affected by sexual abuse.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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