STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
661--A
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, MARKEY, STEVENSON, MAISEL, HIKIND,
GIBSON, SIMOTAS, COOK, COLTON, TITONE, CASTRO, ENGLEBRIGHT, MOYA,
ROBERTS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, ARROYO, BARCLAY,
GRAF, ORTIZ, RAIA, SALADINO, TEDISCO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting "Erin
Merryn's law"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 "Erin Merryn's law".
3 § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds and
4 declares that child sexual abuse, estimated to affect up to one in four
5 girls and up to one in six boys, poses a grave threat to the health and
6 safety of young people, and its damaging effects can last a lifetime.
7 The legislature also finds and declares that child sexual exploita-
8 tion, including the use of children in pornography and prostitution, and
9 child abduction pose a similar threat to the health and safety of young
10 people, and put child victims at grave risk of death or severe bodily
11 harm.
12 The legislature also finds and declares that the incidence of child
13 sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation and child abduction can be
14 reduced by raising awareness among young children of common dangers and
15 warning signs, empowering children to better protect themselves from
16 sexual predators, and teaching children how to obtain any necessary
17 assistance or services.
18 It is hereby declared to be the public policy and in the public inter-
19 est of this state to establish a comprehensive program to provide an
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03100-03-3
A. 661--A 2
1 age-appropriate course of instruction in the prevention of child abduc-
2 tion, child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.
3 § 3. Section 803-a of the education law, as added by chapter 658 of
4 the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
5 § 803-a. Courses of study in prevention of child abduction, child
6 sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. 1. All pupils in grades
7 [K-8] kindergarten through eight in all public schools in the state
8 shall receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction, exploita-
9 tion or sexual abuse of children. Such instruction shall be provided by
10 or under the direct supervision of regular classroom teachers, provided,
11 however, that such instruction may be provided by any other agency,
12 public or private.
13 2. The commissioner, shall provide technical assistance to assist in
14 the development of curricula for such courses of study which shall be
15 age appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of
16 pupils at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness skills,
17 information, self-confidence and support to aid in the prevention of
18 child abduction, child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.
19 3. For purposes of developing such courses of study, the board of
20 education or trustees of every school district may establish local advi-
21 sory councils or utilize the school-based shared decision making and
22 planning committee established pursuant to regulations of the commis-
23 sioner to make recommendations concerning the content and implementation
24 of such courses. School districts may alternatively utilize courses of
25 instruction developed by consortia of school district, boards of cooper-
26 ative educational services, other school districts or any other agency,
27 public or private. Such advisory councils shall consist of, but not be
28 limited to, parents, school trustees and board members, appropriate
29 school personnel, business and community representatives, and law
30 enforcement personnel having experience in the prevention of child
31 abduction, child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.
32 4. The board of education or trustees of every school district shall
33 provide appropriate training and curriculum materials for the regular
34 teachers who provide such instruction.
35 § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of September next
36 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
