Bill > HB1817

This bill focuses on supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools by implementing several key provisions. The bill requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to develop and post staff training materials by November 1, 2026, focusing on trauma-informed and survivor-centered responses to sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault. It expands existing reporting requirements for school employees to explicitly include sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault, and mandates that school employees receive training every three years that includes bystander intervention training specifically addressing employee sexual abuse of students. Additionally, the bill requires OSPI to develop a comprehensive student and family guide in collaboration with the Washington State School Directors' Association and local community experts, which must be culturally informed and translated into the most common non-English languages spoken in the state. The guide will explain sexual harassment policies, related laws and procedures, and mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse. The training and guide provisions aim to improve awareness, support, and response mechanisms for sexual assault in school settings, with the expanded reporting requirements and training taking effect on August 1, 2027.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1817&Year=2025&Initiative=false