Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act

Bill: 114-s-1665
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-06-24
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child safety and welfare

Crime prevention

Crime victims

Crimes against children

Domestic violence and child abuse

Education programs funding

Elementary and secondary education

Mental health

Preschool education

School administration

Sex offenses

Teaching, teachers, curricula
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) authorize the use of grants to local educational agencies for carrying out child sexual abuse awareness and prevention programs and activities, (2) establish periodic evaluation requirements for such grant programs and activities, and (3) establish principles of effectiveness applicable to these grant programs and activities as well as to those aimed at reducing the impact of domestic violence on schoolchildren.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1665 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2015 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Heller , and Mrs. Feinstein ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize local educational agencies and schools to carry out child sexual abuse awareness and prevention programs or activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act . 2. Child sexual abuse awareness and prevention Section 5571 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7275 ) is amended— (1) in the section heading by inserting child sexual abuse and after combat ; (2) in subsection (b)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking and after the semicolon; (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following; (E) to carry out child sexual abuse awareness and prevention programs or activities. ; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (8); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6) To provide age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction for early childhood, elementary school, and secondary school students in child sexual abuse awareness and prevention, including how to recognize child sexual abuse and how to safely report child sexual abuse. (7) To provide information to parents and guardians of early childhood, elementary school, and secondary school students about child sexual abuse awareness and prevention, including how to recognize child sexual abuse and how to discuss child sexual abuse with a child. ; (4) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following: (5) A description of how the local educational agency will ensure that a program or activity developed or carried out using funds provided under the grant is consistent with the principles of effectiveness described in subsection (f). ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (f) Principles of effectiveness (1) In general For a program or activity developed or carried out under this section to meet the principles of effectiveness, such program or activity shall— (A) be based upon an assessment of objective data regarding the need for programs and activities in the elementary school or secondary school to be served to— (i) improve school safety and promote students’ physical and mental health and well-being; and (ii) strengthen parent and community engagement to ensure a healthy, safe, and supportive school environment; (B) be based upon established State requirements and evidence-based criteria aimed at ensuring a healthy, safe, and supportive school environment for students in the elementary school or secondary school that will be served by the program; and (C) include meaningful and ongoing consultation with and input from teachers, principals, school leaders, and parents in the development of the application and administration of the program or activity. (2) Periodic evaluation (A) In general The program or activity shall undergo a periodic independent, third party evaluation to assess the extent to which the program or activity has helped the local educational agency or school provide students with a healthy, safe, and supportive school environment that promotes school safety and students’ physical and mental health and well-being. (B) Use of results The local educational agency shall ensure that the results of the periodic evaluations described under subparagraph (A) are— (i) used to refine, improve, and strengthen the program or activity, and to refine locally determined criteria described under paragraph (1)(B); and (ii) made available to the public and the State. (3) Prohibition Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the Secretary or any other officer or employee of the Federal Government to mandate, direct, or control, the principles of effectiveness developed or utilized by a local educational agency under this subsection. .