CHAPTER 143

SB 348 – FINAL VERSION

02/13/14 0408s

05/08/14 1806EBA

2014 SESSION

14-2770

04/08

SENATE BILL 348

AN ACT establishing a commission to study sexual abuse prevention education in elementary and secondary schools.

SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Health, Education and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study sexual abuse prevention education in elementary and secondary schools.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/13/14 0408s

05/08/14 1806EBA

14-2770

04/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT establishing a commission to study sexual abuse prevention education in elementary and secondary schools.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

143:1 New Subdivision; Commission to Study Sexual Abuse Prevention Education in Elementary and Secondary Schools. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 64 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Study Sexual Abuse Prevention Education

in Elementary and Secondary Schools

189:65 Commission Established.

I. There is established a commission to study sexual abuse prevention education in elementary and secondary schools. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

(d) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(e) The superintendent of a school administrative unit, or designee, appointed by the governor.

(f) One teacher or one school administrator currently employed in a public elementary or secondary school, and one guidance counselor currently employed in a public elementary or secondary school, appointed by the governor.

(g) Two parents who have a child in a public elementary or secondary school, appointed by the governor.

(h) One member from Sexual Assault Support Services of New Hampshire, appointed by the executive director.

(i) One member from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, appointed by the governor.

(j) One member who is a law enforcement officer serving as a school resource officer, appointed by the governor.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall:

(a) Study the current practices and legislation in other jurisdictions regarding sexual abuse prevention education in elementary and secondary schools, including activities and practices of state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations, and solicit advice and testimony from such groups.

(b) Identify model evidence-based curricula for sexual abuse prevention education.

(c) Make recommendations for utilizing trained professionals to implement evidence-based curricula and training for reporting of sexual abuse in schools.

(d) Identify opportunities for collaboration with state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations to provide prevention education services.

(e) Identify potential funding needs and sources to support increased sexual abuse prevention education in schools.

IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2014, and shall submit a final report of the same on or before June 30, 2015.

143:2 Repeal. RSA 189:65 relative to a commission to study sexual abuse prevention education in elementary and secondary schools, is repealed.

143:3 Contingent Renumbering. If HB 1587 of the 2014 legislative session becomes law, RSA 189:65 as inserted by section 1 of this act and as referenced in section 2 of this act shall be renumbered as RSA 189:69.

143:4 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2015.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 16, 2014

Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect July 1, 2015.

II. Remainder shall take effect June 16, 2014.