By: Parker (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 1041
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2009;
May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on
Education; May 21, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0;
May 21, 2009, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1041 By: Van de Putte
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school district policies addressing sexual abuse of
children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as Jenna's Law.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.0041 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.0041. POLICIES ADDRESSING SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN.
(a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a policy
addressing sexual abuse of children to be included in the district
improvement plan under Section 11.252.
(b) A policy required by this section must address:
(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, using resources developed by the
agency under Section 38.004;
(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.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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