By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 2039
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2017; March 27, 2017, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 1, 2017,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0, 1 present not voting;
  May 1, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2039 By:  Uresti
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the development of a program and training for public
  schools on the prevention of sexual abuse and sex trafficking and
  participation by the human trafficking prevention task force in
  that development.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.017 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.017.  INSTRUCTION ON PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND
  SEX TRAFFICKING. (a)  The commissioner, in cooperation with the
  human trafficking prevention task force created under Section
  402.035, Government Code, and any other persons the commissioner
  considers appropriate, shall develop a sexual abuse and sex
  trafficking prevention program that a school district may use in
  the district's health curriculum.  The program must include:
               (1)  information on the different forms of sexual abuse
  and assault, sex trafficking, and risk factors for sex trafficking;
               (2)  the procedures for reporting sexual abuse and sex
  trafficking or suspected sexual abuse or sex trafficking;
               (3)  strategies for sexual abuse and assault prevention
  and overcoming peer pressure;
               (4)  information on establishing healthy boundaries
  for relationships, recognizing potentially abusive or harmful
  relationships, and avoiding high-risk activities;
               (5)  the recruiting tactics of sex traffickers and peer
  recruiters, including recruitment through the Internet;
               (6)  the legal aspects of sexual abuse and sex
  trafficking under state and federal law; and
               (7)  the influence of culture and mass media on
  perceptions of sexual abuse and sex trafficking, including
  stereotypes and myths about victims and abusers, victim blaming,
  and the role of language.
         (b)  The program developed under Subsection (a) must
  emphasize compassion for victims of sexual abuse or sex trafficking
  and the creation of a positive reentry experience for survivors of
  sexual abuse or sex trafficking into schools.
         SECTION 2.  Section 38.0041, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1)
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Each school district and open-enrollment charter school
  shall adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse, sex
  trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, to be included in
  the district improvement plan under Section 11.252 and any
  informational handbook provided to students and parents.
         (a-1)  A school district may collaborate with local law
  enforcement and outside consultants with expertise in the
  prevention of sexual abuse and sex trafficking to create the policy
  required under Subsection (a), and to create a referral protocol
  for high-risk students.
         (b)  A policy required by this section must address:
               (1)  methods for increasing staff, student, and parent
  awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and
  other maltreatment of children, including prevention techniques
  and knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be
  a victim of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment,
  using resources developed by the agency under Section 38.004 or by
  the commissioner under Section 28.017;
               (2)  actions that a child who is a victim of sexual
  abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment should take to obtain
  assistance and intervention; and
               (3)  available counseling options for students
  affected by sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment.
         (c)  The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for increasing
  awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and
  other maltreatment of children must include training, as provided
  by this subsection, concerning prevention techniques for and
  recognition of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and all other
  maltreatment of children.  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, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment;
                     (B)  likely warning signs indicating a child may
  be a victim of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other
  maltreatment;
                     (C)  internal procedures for seeking assistance
  for a child who is at risk for sexual abuse, sex trafficking, 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, sex trafficking, 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 3.  Section 402.035(h), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (h)  This section expires September 1, 2019 [2017].
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect only if a specific
  appropriation for the implementation of the Act is provided in a
  general appropriations act of the 85th Legislature.
         SECTION 6.  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.
 
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