An Act To Require Education in Public Preschool Programs and Elementary Schools Regarding Child Sexual Abuse
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1180
Committee Amendment CA_A_H353 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §254, 20-A MRSA §4502

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '/+" to H.P. 813, L.D. 1180, Bill, "An Act To 
Require Education in Public Preschool Programs and Elementary Schools Regarding 
Child Sexual Abuse" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Mandate preamble. This measure requires one or more local units of government 
to expand or modify activities so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local 
revenues but does not provide funding for at least 90% of those expenditures. Pursuant to 
the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 21, 2/3 of all of the members elected to 
each House have determined it necessary to enact this measure.' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §254, sub-§18 is enacted to read: 
18. Model policy; child sexual abuse prevention. The commissioner shall develop 
a model policy for child sexual abuse prevention education and response that may be used 
for public preschool programs operated in compliance with chapter 203, subchapter 3 and 
for all students enrolled in kindergarten to grade 5. 
A. No later than July 1, 2016, the commissioner, in consultation with the Department 
of Health and Human Services, organizations that have expertise in child sexual 
abuse prevention education and organizations representing school boards, 
administrators, teachers and parents, shall develop a model policy based on nationally 
recognized best practices that includes: 
(1) Child sexual abuse response and reporting procedures: 
(2) Child sexual abuse awareness training and prevention education for school 
personnel; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
I 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 813, L.D. 1180 
(3) 
Age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention education for students, 
aligned to the system of learning results established pursuant to section 6209 and 
delivered by qualified instructors; 
(4) School response and reporting procedures; and 
(5) Resources a victim of child sexual abuse or nonoffending caregivers of a 
victim of child sexual abuse may access for services and support. 
B. The department shall offer technical assistance to school administrative units that 
operate a public preschool program or an elementary school to aid in the 
establishment of a local child sexual abuse prevention education and response policy 
that is consistent with the model policy developed under paragraph A. 
C. The department shall send a copy of the model policy developed under paragraph 
A to each school administrative unit in the State and post the model policy on the 
publicly accessible portion of the department's website along with any related 
resources that the commissioner determines necessary. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5-C is enacted to read: 
5-C. Child sexual abuse prevention education and response. Beginning in the 
2017-2018 school year, a school administrative unit that operates a public preschool 
program or an elementary school shall adopt a written local policy for child sexual abuse 
prevention education and response that is consistent with the model policy developed by 
the commissioner pursuant to section 254, subsection 18.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds a mandate preamble. 
This amendment replaces the bill. This amendment changes the model policy 
provisions of the bill to provide that the Commissioner of Education must develop a 
model policy on child sexual abuse prevention education and response for public 
preschool programs and elementary schools. This amendment requires the Department of 
Education to develop the model policy by July 1, 2016, to make the model policy 
available to school administrative units and to assist school administrative units in 
developing their own policies for child sexual abuse prevention education and response, 
based upon the model policy, which schools must develop for the 2017-2018 school year. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 06108115 
~a~ 
LD 1180 
LR389(02) 
An Act To Require Education in Public Preschool Programs and Elementary Schools Regarding Child 
Sexual Abuse 
mscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,jI" (j/ ~ 353 \ 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
rr 
?) 
State Mandates 
Required Activity 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
State Mandate - Exempted 
Requires school administrative units that operate a public preschool program or an 
elementary school to develop a written local policy for child sexual abuse 
prevention education and response by the 2017-2018 school year. 
Unit Affected 
Local Cost 
School 
Insignificant 
statewide 
Pursuant to the Mandate Preamble, the two-thirds vote of all members elected to each House exempts the State from 
the constitutional requirement to fund 90% of the additional costs. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Education to develop the model policy by July 1,2016 and provide technical 
assistance to school administrative units that operate a public preschool program or an elementmy school in the 
development of a local policy can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0389(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1