Hawaii Senate Bill SR209

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/22
• Refer: 3/16/22
• Report Pass: 3/30/22
• Passed: 3/31/22

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Education To Assess And Report To The Legislature Whether And To What Extent Existing Curriculum And Training Align With Erin's Law.

Impact

If enacted, the resolution would mandate that the Department of Education submits a report that outlines the findings regarding the current curriculum's compliance with Erin's Law prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023. This evaluation is significant as it underscores the necessity to ensure that educational resources adequately address the prevention and awareness of child sexual abuse, safeguarding students and supporting affected families.

Summary

SR209 is a Senate Resolution introduced in the Hawaii legislature which requests the Department of Education to evaluate the existing child sexual abuse curriculum and training programs to determine their alignment with Erin's Law. Erin's Law requires public educational institutions to implement programs designed to teach children how to recognize and report sexual abuse, as well as to provide necessary resources and information for parents and guardians.

Contention

There may be points of contention regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of current educational programs already in place. Critics may argue about the adequacy of existing resources and whether they sufficiently address the goals of Erin's Law. Importantly, the involvement of advocacy groups like the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and Parents and Children Together suggests an effort to incorporate expert input into the evaluation, which could raise discussions on the suitability of resources and training methods available to schools.