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| Public Act 096-1524 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections | ||||
22-65 and 10-23.13 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/22-65 new) | ||||
Sec. 22-65. The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual | ||||
Abuse of Children. The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual | ||||
Abuse of Children is created within the Department of Children | ||||
and Family Services. The Task Force shall consist of all of the | ||||
following members: | ||||
(1) One member of the General Assembly and one member | ||||
of the public, appointed by the President of the Senate. | ||||
(2) One member of the General Assembly and one member | ||||
of the public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the | ||||
Senate. | ||||
(3) One member of the General Assembly and one member | ||||
of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House of | ||||
Representatives. | ||||
(4) One member of the General Assembly and one member | ||||
of the public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the | ||||
House of Representatives. | ||||
(5) The Director of Children and Family Services or his | ||||
or her designee. | ||
(6) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her | ||
designee. | ||
(7) The Director of Public Health or his or her | ||
designee. | ||
(8) The Executive Director of the Illinois Violence | ||
Prevention Authority or his or her designee. | ||
(9) A representative of an agency that leads the | ||
collaboration of the investigation, prosecution, and | ||
treatment of child sexual and physical abuse cases, | ||
appointed by the Director of Children and Family Services. | ||
(10) A representative of an organization representing | ||
law enforcement, appointed by the Director of State Police. | ||
(11) A representative of a statewide professional | ||
teachers' organization, appointed by the head of that | ||
organization. | ||
(12) A representative of a different statewide | ||
professional teachers' organization, appointed by the head | ||
of that organization. | ||
(13) A representative of an organization involved in | ||
the prevention of child abuse in this State, appointed by | ||
the Director of Children and Family Services. | ||
(14) A representative of an organization representing | ||
school management in this State, appointed by the State | ||
Superintendent of Education. | ||
(15) Erin Merryn, for whom Section 10-23.13 of this | ||
Code is named. | ||
Members of the Task Force must be individuals who are | ||
actively involved in the fields of the prevention of child | ||
abuse and neglect and child welfare. The appointment of members | ||
must reflect the geographic diversity of the State. | ||
The Task Force shall elect a presiding officer by a | ||
majority vote of the membership of the Task Force. The Task | ||
Force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer. | ||
The Task Force shall make recommendations for reducing | ||
child sexual abuse in Illinois. In making those | ||
recommendations, the Task Force shall: | ||
(1) gather information concerning child sexual abuse | ||
throughout the State; | ||
(2) receive reports and testimony from individuals, | ||
State and local agencies, community-based organizations, | ||
and other public and private organizations; | ||
(3) create goals for State policy that would prevent | ||
child sexual abuse; and | ||
(4) submit a final report with its recommendations to | ||
the Office of the Governor and the General Assembly by | ||
January 1, 2012. | ||
The recommendations may include proposals for specific | ||
statutory changes and methods to foster cooperation among State | ||
agencies and between the State and local government. | ||
The Task Force shall consult with employees of the | ||
Department of Children and Family Services, the Criminal | ||
Justice Information Agency, the Department of State Police, the | ||
Illinois State Board of Education, and any other State agency | ||
or department as necessary to accomplish the Task Force's | ||
responsibilities under this Section. | ||
The members of the Task Force shall serve without | ||
compensation and shall not be reimbursed for their expenses. | ||
The Task Force shall be abolished upon submission of the | ||
final report to the Office of the Governor and the General | ||
Assembly. | ||
(105 ILCS 5/10-23.13 new) | ||
Sec. 10-23.13. Policies addressing sexual abuse. To adopt | ||
and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse of children that | ||
may include age-appropriate curriculum for students in pre-K | ||
through 5th grade; training for school personnel on child | ||
sexual abuse; educational information to parents or guardians | ||
provided in the school handbook on the warning signs of a child | ||
being abused, along with any needed assistance, referral, or | ||
resource information; available counseling and resources for | ||
students affected by sexual abuse; and emotional and | ||
educational support for a child of abuse to continue to be | ||
successful in school. | ||
Any policy adopted may address without limitation: | ||
(1) methods for increasing teacher, student, and | ||
parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of | ||
children, including knowledge of likely warning signs | ||
indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse; | ||
(2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual | ||
abuse should take to obtain assistance and intervention; | ||
and | ||
(3) available counseling options for students affected | ||
by sexual abuse. | ||
This Section may be referred to as Erin's Law.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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