WEST virginia legislature

2023 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 124

By Senator Woelfel

[Introduced January 11, 2023; referred
to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-7g, relating to authorizing a child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention program and in-service training in child sexual abuse prevention.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 2. state board of education

§18-2-7g. Program in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention.

(a) In grades 3 through 6, annual age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse prevention, including information on available counseling and resources for children who are sexually abused.

(b) In grades 3 through 6, instruction in personal safety and assault prevention, except that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in personal safety and assault prevention.

(c) In grades 7 through 12, age-appropriate instruction in dating violence prevention education and sexual violence prevention education, which shall include instruction in recognizing dating violence warning signs and characteristics of healthy relationships.

(d) In order to assist county school boards in developing a dating violence prevention education and sexual violence prevention education curriculum, the State Board of Education shall provide on its web site links to free curricula addressing dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention.

(e) If the parent or legal guardian of a student submits to the principal of the student's school a written request to examine the dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention instruction materials used at that school, the principal, within a reasonable period of time after the request is made, shall allow the parent or guardian to examine those materials at that school.

(f) The state board shall adopt the curriculum a program of in-service training in the prevention of child abuse, and violence, and the promotion of positive youth development pursuant to the provisions of §18A-3-1 of this code.

(g) Any person employed by any county board to work in a school as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator shall complete at least four hours of the in-service training in the prevention of child abuse, and violence, and the promotion of positive youth development and shall complete training every five years thereafter.

(h) The state board shall incorporate training on child sexual abuse. The training completed under this provision shall count toward the satisfaction of requirements for professional development required by the state board.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize a child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention program and in-service training in child sexual abuse prevention.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.