SB2843 Engrossed LRB096 16940 MJR 32253 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
5 2-3.153 and 10-23.13 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.153 new)
7     Sec. 2-3.153. The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual
8 Abuse of Children. The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual
9 Abuse of Children is created within the Illinois State Board of
10 Education. The Task Force shall consist of 9 members appointed
11 as follows:
12         (1) five members appointed by the Governor;
13         (2) one member appointed by the President of the
14     Senate;
15         (3) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
16     Senate;
17         (4) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
18     Representatives; and
19         (5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
20     House of Representatives.
21     Members of the Task Force must be individuals who are
22 actively involved in the fields of the prevention of child
23 abuse and neglect and child welfare. The appointment of members

 

 

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1 must reflect the geographic diversity of the State.
2     The Task Force shall elect a presiding officer by a
3 majority vote of the membership of the Task Force. The Task
4 Force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.
5     The Task Force shall make recommendations for reducing
6 child sexual abuse in Illinois. In making those
7 recommendations, the Task Force shall:
8         (1) gather information concerning child sexual abuse
9     throughout the State;
10         (2) receive reports and testimony from individuals,
11     State and local agencies, community-based organizations,
12     and other public and private organizations;
13         (3) create goals for State policy that would prevent
14     child sexual abuse; and
15         (4) submit a final report with its recommendations to
16     the Office of the Governor and the General Assembly by
17     April 30, 2011.
18     The recommendations may include proposals for specific
19 statutory changes and methods to foster cooperation among State
20 agencies and between the State and local government.
21     The Task Force shall consult with employees of the
22 Department of Children and Family Services, the Criminal
23 Justice Information Agency, the Department of State Police, the
24 Illinois State Board of Education, and any other State agency
25 or department as necessary to accomplish the Task Force's
26 responsibilities under this Section.

 

 

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1     The members of the Task Force shall serve without
2 compensation and shall not be reimbursed for their expenses.
3     The Task Force shall be abolished upon submission of the
4 final report to the Office of the Governor and the General
5 Assembly.
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/10-23.13 new)
7     Sec. 10-23.13. Policies addressing sexual abuse. To adopt
8 and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse of children that
9 may include age-appropriate curriculum for students in pre-K
10 through 5th grade; training for school personnel on child
11 sexual abuse; educational information to parents or guardians
12 provided in the school handbook on the warning signs of a child
13 being abused, along with any needed assistance, referral, or
14 resource information; available counseling and resources for
15 students affected by sexual abuse; and emotional and
16 educational support for a child of abuse to continue to be
17 successful in school.
18     Any policy adopted may address without limitation:
19         (1) methods for increasing teacher, student, and
20     parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of
21     children, including knowledge of likely warning signs
22     indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse;
23         (2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual
24     abuse should take to obtain assistance and intervention;
25     and

 

 

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1         (3) available counseling options for students affected
2     by sexual abuse.
3     This Section may be referred to as Erin's Law.
 
4     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5 becoming law.