BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1342
	By: Parker (Hughes)
	Education
	5/16/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 1342 amends the Education Code to require that child abuse antivictimization programs provided by school districts in public elementary and secondary schools include annual, age-appropriate, research-based child sexual abuse prevention training designed to promote self-protection, prevent sexual abuse and trafficking of children, and reduce child pregnancy. The bill requires school districts to ensure that enrolled students attend the training each year, with the districts providing at least two training opportunities during the year. Not later than September 1 of each year, school districts would submit a report to the Texas Education Agency on the number and percentage of students enrolled in the district who attended the child sexual abuse prevention training during the preceding school year and would submit the initial report not later than September 1, 2018. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

 

H.B. 1342 amends current law relating to child sexual abuse prevention training for public school students.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 38.004, Education Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and (d), as follows:

 

(b) Requires each school district to provide child abuse antivictimization programs in elementary and secondary schools. Requires the programs to include annual age-appropriate, research-based child sexual abuse prevention training designed to promote self-protection and prevent sexual abuse and trafficking of children. Requires the district to each year include a description of the training in certain media, ensure that each student enrolled in the district attends the training each year, and provide at least two opportunities each year for a student to attend the training required that year.

 

(c) Requires each school district, not later than September 1 of each year, to submit to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) a report on the number and percentage of students enrolled in the district who attended the child sexual abuse prevention training required by Subsection (b) during the preceding school year.

 

(d) Requires TEA to compile a list of child sexual abuse prevention training programs from which a school district is required to choose in providing the child sexual abuse prevention training required under Subsection (b).

 

SECTION 2. Provides that it is not the intent of the legislature that the changes in law made by this Act be interpreted as requiring the provision of human sexuality instruction.

 

SECTION 3. Requires a school district to submit the initial report required by Section 38.004(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2018.

 

SECTION 4. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

 

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.