Z-0852.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 1985

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Representatives Brumsickle, Dorn, Peery, Winsley, Miller and Rasmussen; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Board of Education.

Read first time February 18, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Education.Requiring teachers to have professional preparation in child abuse issues.

     AN ACT Relating to teacher preparation in child abuse issues; and amending RCW 28A.305.230 and 28A.405.025.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.305.230 and 1985 c 419 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     The legislature finds that learning is more difficult for many children because they are the victims of child abuse.  Educators are often in a position to identify and assist these children in coping with their unfortunate circumstances.  Educators should be trained to deal with this responsibility.  The legislature, therefore, ((encourages)) requires the state board of education to include in its program standards for professional preparation programs instruction in child abuse issues.

     Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.405.025 and 1990 c 90 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     To ((receive initial certification as a teacher)) complete an approved professional preparation program in this state for certification as a teacher after August 31, 1991, ((an applicant)) a candidate shall have successfully completed ((a)) course work or an in-service program including a minimum of ten clock hours of instruction on issues of abuse.  The content of the course work or in-service program shall discuss the identification of physical, emotional, sexual, and substance abuse, information on the impact of abuse on the behavior and learning abilities of students, discussion of the responsibilities of a teacher to report abuse or provide assistance to students who are the victims of abuse, and methods for teaching students about abuse of all types and their prevention.  The state board of education shall require by rule that candidates for continuing certification who have not completed such course work or in-service program shall do so as a condition for issuance of a continuing certificate.