AN ACT Relating to a curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse of students; amending RCW 28A.300.150 and 28A.300.160; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

(2) The legislature finds that thirty-one states have enacted Erin's laws. Erin's laws, named in honor of a childhood sexual assault survivor, are intended to help children, teachers, and parents identify sexual abuse, and to provide assistance, referral, or resource information for children and families who are victims of child sexual abuse. The legislation adopted in these states requires the study or development of age-appropriate child sexual abuse identification and prevention.

(3) The legislature finds that the federal every student succeeds act, P.L. 114-95, as signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 10, 2015, provides federal funding that can be used for the implementation of programs established in accordance with Erin's laws.

(4) The legislature, therefore, intends to incorporate curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, such as Erin's law, into an existing statewide coordinated program for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Sec. 2.  RCW 28A.300.150 and 2006 c 263 s 705 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall collect and disseminate to school districts information on and curricula for the coordinated program for the prevention of sexual abuse of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, child abuse, and neglect ((prevention curriculum and)) established in RCW 28A.300.160. The superintendent shall also adopt rules ((dealing with)) addressing the prevention of sexual abuse of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade and child abuse for purposes of ((curriculum use)) curricula used in ((the common)) public schools.

(2) Effective July 1, 2018, the superintendent of public instruction and the ((departments of social and health services and community, trade, and economic development)) department of children, youth, and families shall share relevant information in furtherance of this section.

Sec. 3.  RCW 28A.300.160 and 1995 c 399 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall be the lead agency and shall assist the department of ((social and health services, the department of community, trade, and economic development,)) children, youth, and families and school districts in establishing a coordinated ((primary prevention)) program for the prevention of sexual abuse of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, child abuse, and neglect.

(2) In developing the program, consideration shall be given to the following:

(a) Parent, teacher, and children's workshops whose information and training is:

(i) Provided in a clear, age-appropriate, nonthreatening manner, delineating the problem and the range of possible solutions;

(ii) Culturally and linguistically appropriate to the population served;

(iii) Appropriate to the geographic area served; and

(iv) Designed to help counteract common stereotypes about the sexual abuse of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, child abuse victims, and offenders;

(b) Training for school-age children's parents and school staff, which includes:

(i) Physical and behavioral indicators of abuse;

(ii) Crisis counseling techniques;

(iii) Community resources;

(iv) Rights and responsibilities regarding reporting;

(v) School district procedures to facilitate reporting and apprise supervisors and administrators of reports; and

(vi) Caring for a child's needs after a report is made;

(c) Training for licensed day care providers and parents that includes:

(i) Positive child guidance techniques;

(ii) Physical and behavioral indicators of abuse;

(iii) Recognizing and providing safe, quality day care;

(iv) Community resources;

(v) Rights and responsibilities regarding reporting; and

(vi) Caring for the abused or neglected child;

(d) Training for children that includes:

(i) The right of every child to live free of abuse;

(ii) How to disclose incidents of abuse and neglect;

(iii) The availability of support resources and how to obtain help;

(iv) Child safety training and age-appropriate self-defense techniques; and

(v) A period for crisis counseling and reporting immediately following the completion of each children's workshop in a school setting which maximizes the child's privacy and sense of safety.

(3) The ((primary)) coordinated prevention program established under this section ((shall be)) is a voluntary program and ((shall not be)) is not part of the state's program of basic ((program of)) education.

(4) Parents shall be given notice of the ((primary)) coordinated prevention program and may refuse to have their children participate in the program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall make the curriculum included under section 3(1)(b), chapter . . ., Laws of 2018 (section 3(1)(b) of this act) available on its web site.

--- END ---