I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5276 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to protect 
students from sexual abuse, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 25, 2023 
Mr. LIEU introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to protect students from sexual abuse, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Preventing Sexual 
Abuse of K–12 Students Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Child sexual abuse victims are at greater 
risk of experiencing feelings of guilt and shame, suf-
fering from low self-esteem, and developing sub-
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stance abuse symptoms, depression, and post-trau-
matic stress disorder. 
(2) A 2004 study by the Department of Edu-
cation indicated that 9.6 percent of students in sec-
ondary schools reported that they had been sub-
jected to sexual misconduct by school personnel. 
(3) A 2014 report by the Government Account-
ability Office revealed that only 42 States had codes 
of conduct for school personnel of which only 22 
dealt with appropriate relationships between per-
sonnel and students. 
(4) Such 2014 report by GAO also revealed 
that only 18 States mandated that school districts 
provide sexual abuse and misconduct awareness and 
prevention training. 
(5) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), which prohibits sex 
discrimination in education programs or activities 
receiving federal funds, requires elementary and sec-
ondary schools to protect students from sexual abuse 
and misconduct. 
(6) Educators are dedicated and tireless indi-
viduals serving our communities and they make in-
valuable contributions to our country by preparing 
students for the future. They work to provide chil-
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dren with safe and secure environments in which to 
learn and these safe environments should be 
strengthened by including the resources and training 
necessary to help prevent the sexual abuse of stu-
dents. 
(7) It is in the interest of the United States to 
protect students in elementary and secondary 
schools from sexual abuse and misconduct. 
SEC. 3. SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subpart 2 of part F of title VIII 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 8549D. SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING. 
‘‘Each State receiving funds under this Act shall es-
tablish and implement a statewide policy requiring each 
local educational agency to— 
‘‘(1) develop codes of conduct to prevent sexual 
abuse of students by identifying acceptable and un-
acceptable behavior for— 
‘‘(A) school personnel with respect to rela-
tionships with students; and 
‘‘(B) students with respect to relationships 
with other students; and 
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‘‘(2) ensure that school personnel receive train-
ing on— 
‘‘(A) the codes of conduct described in 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) Federal and State requirements with 
respect to reporting child abuse; 
‘‘(C) the requirements under title IX of the 
Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 
1681 et seq.) with respect to protecting stu-
dents in elementary and secondary schools from 
sexual abuse and misconduct; and 
‘‘(D) sexual abuse and misconduct aware-
ness and prevention.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.— 
(1) GRANTS FOR STATE ASSESSMENTS.—Sec-
tion 1201(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6361(a)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) To carry out sexual abuse awareness train-
ing under section 8549D.’’. 
(2) TYPES
OF
STATE
ACTIVITIES.—Section 
2101(c)(4)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6611(c)(4)(B)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(xxii) Carrying out sexual abuse 
awareness training under section 8549D.’’. 
(3) 
LOCAL
USES
OF
FUNDS.—Section 
2103(b)(3)(L) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(b)(3)(L)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and carrying out sexual 
abuse awareness training under section 8549D’’ be-
fore the semicolon. 
(4) STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICH-
MENT GRANTS.—Section 4108(5) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7118(5)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (H)(iii), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(J) carrying out sexual abuse awareness train-
ing under section 8549D.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date that is 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall conduct a 
study and submit a report to Congress that includes— 
(1) the incidence of sexual abuse of elementary 
and secondary school students by— 
(A) other students; and 
(B) school personnel; and 
(2) recommendations with respect to preventing 
the sexual abuse described in paragraph (1). 
Æ 
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