| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to training for employees of school districts and |
|
|
open-enrollment charter schools on the prevention of sexual abuse |
|
|
and other maltreatment of certain children. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 38.0041(c), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for increasing |
|
|
awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse and other maltreatment |
|
|
of children must include training, as provided by this subsection, |
|
|
concerning prevention techniques for and recognition of sexual |
|
|
abuse and all other maltreatment of children, including the sexual |
|
|
abuse and other maltreatment of children with significant cognitive |
|
|
disabilities in both educational and noneducational settings. The |
|
|
training: |
|
|
(1) must be provided, as part of a new employee |
|
|
orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter |
|
|
school employees and to existing district and open-enrollment |
|
|
charter school employees on a schedule adopted by the agency by rule |
|
|
until all district and open-enrollment charter school employees |
|
|
have taken the training; and |
|
|
(2) must include training concerning: |
|
|
(A) factors indicating a child is at risk for |
|
|
sexual abuse or other maltreatment; |
|
|
(B) likely warning signs indicating a child may |
|
|
be a victim of sexual abuse or other maltreatment; |
|
|
(C) internal procedures for seeking assistance |
|
|
for a child who is at risk for sexual abuse or other maltreatment, |
|
|
including referral to a school counselor, a social worker, or |
|
|
another mental health professional; |
|
|
(D) techniques for reducing a child's risk of |
|
|
sexual abuse or other maltreatment; and |
|
|
(E) community organizations that have relevant |
|
|
existing research-based programs that are able to provide training |
|
|
or other education for school district or open-enrollment charter |
|
|
school staff members, students, and parents. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
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, 2017. |