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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1342

By: Parker

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties have observed different avenues to train those most at risk of child sexual abuse on how to recognize and prevent such abuse. C.S.H.B. 1342 proposes to bolster the public school system as one of those avenues by establishing required components of a school district's child abuse antivictimization programs.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 1342 amends the Education Code to require the child abuse antivictimization programs in public elementary and secondary schools provided by each school district to 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 the district to ensure that each student enrolled in the district attends the training each year and to provide at least two opportunities each year for a student to attend the training required that year. The bill requires each district, not later than September 1 of each year, to submit to the Texas Education Agency a report on the number and percentage of students enrolled in the district who attended the child sexual abuse prevention training required by the bill during the preceding school year and to submit the initial report not later than September 1, 2018. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1342 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

 

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

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

(b)  Each school district shall provide child abuse antivictimization programs in elementary and secondary schools. The programs must include annual age-appropriate, evidence-based child sexual abuse prevention training designed to promote self-protection, prevent sexual abuse of children, and reduce child pregnancy.  The district shall:

(1)  ensure that each student enrolled in the district attends the training each year; and

(2)  provide at least two opportunities each year for a student to attend the training required that year.

(c)  Not later than September 1 of each year, each school district shall submit to the agency 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)  In this section, "child pregnancy" means pregnancy in children under 15 years of age.

 

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

(b)  Each school district shall provide child abuse antivictimization programs in elementary and secondary schools.  The programs must 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 district shall:

(1)  ensure that each student enrolled in the district attends the training each year; and

(2)  provide at least two opportunities each year for a student to attend the training required that year.

(c)  Not later than September 1 of each year, each school district shall submit to the agency 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)  In this section, "child pregnancy" means pregnancy in children under 15 years of age.

 

SECTION 2.  A school district shall submit the initial report required by Section 38.004(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2018.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

 

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 4.  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, 2017.

 

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.