SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1539

As of February 21, 2018

Title: An act relating to a curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse of students.

Brief Description: Regarding a curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse of students.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives McCabe, Orwall, Griffey, Caldier, Senn, Dent, Gregerson, Smith, Kraft, Doglio and Kagi).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/12/18, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/19/18.

Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)

Background: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention. Current state law requires OSPI to collect and disseminate to school districts information on child abuse and neglect prevention curriculum and adopt rules dealing with the prevention of child abuse for purposes of curriculum use in the common schools. OSPI, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) must share relevant information.

OSPI must be the lead agency and assist DSHS, Commerce, and school districts in establishing a coordinated and voluntary primary prevention program for child abuse and neglect. In developing the program, consideration must be given to the following:

1. Parent, teacher, and children's workshops whose information and training is:

   1. provided in a clear, age-appropriate, nonthreatening manner, delineating the problem and the range of possible solutions;

   2. culturally and linguistically appropriate to the population served;

   3. appropriate to the geographic area served; and

   4. designed to help counteract common stereotypes about child abuse victims and offenders.

2. Training for school-age children's parents and school staff, which includes:

   1. physical and behavioral indicators of abuse;

   2. crisis counseling techniques;

   3. community resources;

   4. rights and responsibilities regarding reporting;

   5. school district procedures to facilitate reporting and apprise supervisors and administrators of reports; and

   6. caring for a child's needs after a report is made.

3. Training for licensed day care providers and parents that includes:

   1. positive child guidance techniques;

   2. physical and behavioral indicators of abuse;

   3. recognizing and providing safe, quality day care;

   4. community resources;

   5. rights and responsibilities regarding reporting; and

   6. caring for the abused or neglected child.

4. Training for children that includes:

   1. the right of every child to live free of abuse;

   2. how to disclose incidents of abuse and neglect;

   3. the availability of support resources and how to obtain help;

   4. child safety training and age-appropriate self-defense techniques; and

   5. 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.

Parents must be given notice of the primary prevention program and may refuse to have their children participate in the program.

Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). In 2017, the Legislature created this new department. Child welfare programs from the Children's Administration (CA) within DSHS will move to DCYF on July 1, 2018. CA programs include Child Protective Services, the Family Assessment Response program, foster care, and adoption support.

Summary of Bill: OSPI and DCYF must share relevant information, and DCYF must assist in establishing a coordinated program for the prevention of sexual abuse of students in K-12, child abuse, and neglect, effective July 1, 2018. DSHS and Commerce are no longer required to assist with this program.

OSPI must seek advice and comments regarding any curriculum included within the coordinated program from the following:

• Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs;

• Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys;

• Washington State School Directors' Association;

• Association of Washington School Principals;

• Center for Children and Youth Justice;

• Youthcare;

• Committee for Children;

• Office of Crime Victim Advocacy within Commerce; and

• other relevant organizations.

OSPI must make the curriculum available on its website and may adopt rules addressing the prevention of sexual abuse of students.

OSPI must review any existing curricula, on or before September 1, 2018, related to the prevention of sexual abuse of students in K-12. OSPI must evaluate the curricula for alignment with the coordinated program for the prevention of sexual abuse, child abuse, and neglect.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Sexual abuse destroys children's lives. Schools teach students what to do when there is a fire or earthquake, but not what to do when they are sexually abused. Children are also taught about stranger danger and avoiding drugs, but children are not taught about speaking out when there is sexual abuse. This bill will help teach children about sexual abuse prevention and how to report inappropriate touching. It is important to specifically call out sexual abuse from other types of abuse because of the shame and the post-traumatic stress. Education about consent in grades K-12 helps prevent sexual assault on higher education campuses. Teachers want this curriculum and will use it. Many people with disabilities experience sexual abuse and are especially vulnerable. OSPI would like more time to conduct a thorough review of sexual abuse curriculum with stakeholders. Funds are needed to support this work.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Gina McCabe, Prime Sponsor; Seth Dawson, Children's Advocacy Centers of Washington, Washington Association for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention; Olivia Holderman, citizen; Leah Griffin, Teacher and Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Task Force; Linda Schaeffer, citizen; Erin Merryn, citizen; Marissa Rathbone, OSPI; Diana Stadden, The Arc Of WA.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.