SB2843 EnrolledLRB096 16940 MJR 32253 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
522-65 and 10-23.13 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-65 new)
7    Sec. 22-65. The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual
8Abuse of Children. The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual
9Abuse of Children is created within the Department of Children
10and Family Services. The Task Force shall consist of all of the
11following members:
12        (1) One member of the General Assembly and one member
13    of the public, appointed by the President of the Senate.
14        (2) One member of the General Assembly and one member
15    of the public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the
16    Senate.
17        (3) One member of the General Assembly and one member
18    of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
19    Representatives.
20        (4) One member of the General Assembly and one member
21    of the public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the
22    House of Representatives.
23        (5) The Director of Children and Family Services or his

 

 

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1    or her designee.
2        (6) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her
3    designee.
4        (7) The Director of Public Health or his or her
5    designee.
6        (8) The Executive Director of the Illinois Violence
7    Prevention Authority or his or her designee.
8        (9) A representative of an agency that leads the
9    collaboration of the investigation, prosecution, and
10    treatment of child sexual and physical abuse cases,
11    appointed by the Director of Children and Family Services.
12        (10) A representative of an organization representing
13    law enforcement, appointed by the Director of State Police.
14        (11) A representative of a statewide professional
15    teachers' organization, appointed by the head of that
16    organization.
17        (12) A representative of a different statewide
18    professional teachers' organization, appointed by the head
19    of that organization.
20        (13) A representative of an organization involved in
21    the prevention of child abuse in this State, appointed by
22    the Director of Children and Family Services.
23        (14) A representative of an organization representing
24    school management in this State, appointed by the State
25    Superintendent of Education.
26        (15) Erin Merryn, for whom Section 10-23.13 of this

 

 

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1    Code is named.
2    Members of the Task Force must be individuals who are
3actively involved in the fields of the prevention of child
4abuse and neglect and child welfare. The appointment of members
5must reflect the geographic diversity of the State.
6    The Task Force shall elect a presiding officer by a
7majority vote of the membership of the Task Force. The Task
8Force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.
9    The Task Force shall make recommendations for reducing
10child sexual abuse in Illinois. In making those
11recommendations, the Task Force shall:
12        (1) gather information concerning child sexual abuse
13    throughout the State;
14        (2) receive reports and testimony from individuals,
15    State and local agencies, community-based organizations,
16    and other public and private organizations;
17        (3) create goals for State policy that would prevent
18    child sexual abuse; and
19        (4) submit a final report with its recommendations to
20    the Office of the Governor and the General Assembly by
21    January 1, 2012.
22    The recommendations may include proposals for specific
23statutory changes and methods to foster cooperation among State
24agencies and between the State and local government.
25    The Task Force shall consult with employees of the
26Department of Children and Family Services, the Criminal

 

 

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1Justice Information Agency, the Department of State Police, the
2Illinois State Board of Education, and any other State agency
3or department as necessary to accomplish the Task Force's
4responsibilities under this Section.
5    The members of the Task Force shall serve without
6compensation and shall not be reimbursed for their expenses.
7    The Task Force shall be abolished upon submission of the
8final report to the Office of the Governor and the General
9Assembly.
 
10    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.13 new)
11    Sec. 10-23.13. Policies addressing sexual abuse. To adopt
12and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse of children that
13may include age-appropriate curriculum for students in pre-K
14through 5th grade; training for school personnel on child
15sexual abuse; educational information to parents or guardians
16provided in the school handbook on the warning signs of a child
17being abused, along with any needed assistance, referral, or
18resource information; available counseling and resources for
19students affected by sexual abuse; and emotional and
20educational support for a child of abuse to continue to be
21successful in school.
22    Any policy adopted may address without limitation:
23        (1) methods for increasing teacher, student, and
24    parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of
25    children, including knowledge of likely warning signs

 

 

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1    indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse;
2        (2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual
3    abuse should take to obtain assistance and intervention;
4    and
5        (3) available counseling options for students affected
6    by sexual abuse.
7    This Section may be referred to as Erin's Law.
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9becoming law.