SB2843enr 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2843 Enrolled LRB096 16940 MJR 32253 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

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.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.