Bill > HR5065

This bill seeks to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to enhance protections against sexual abuse in schools by requiring states receiving federal education funds to implement comprehensive sexual abuse prevention measures. The legislation mandates that local educational agencies develop codes of conduct defining acceptable and unacceptable behavior for both school personnel and students, and ensure that school staff receive training on these codes, federal and state child abuse reporting requirements, Title IX protections, and sexual abuse awareness and prevention. The bill is motivated by findings that child sexual abuse can lead to significant psychological harm and that previous studies have shown concerning rates of sexual misconduct in schools, with only a limited number of states having robust prevention policies. To support implementation, the bill provides funding mechanisms through various existing educational grant programs and requires the Secretary of Education to conduct a study within one year of enactment to assess the incidence of sexual abuse in elementary and secondary schools by both students and personnel, along with recommendations for prevention. The provisions are set to take effect two years after the act's enactment, giving schools time to develop and implement the required training and conduct guidelines.

Labor and Employment

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5065/all-info