New Provisions Will Help Fund “Erin’s Law” Programs: Age-Appropriate Lessons for Students, Information for Parents and Guardians, & School Personnel on Recognizing and Reporting Sexual Abuse in States Across Country

After 85-12 Vote, Education Bill Will Head to the President to Become Law

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today announced that the Senate passed key provisions from their bipartisan legislation to help protect children from sexual abuse by funding school programs that provide age-appropriate lessons to primary and secondary school students, as well as information to parents, guardians, and teachers, on how to recognize and safely report sexual abuse. These provisions, based on the Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act and the Helping Our Schools Protect Our Children Act, were included in the bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act. It passed the Senate today by a margin of 85-12.

Twenty-six states have passed a version of “Erin’s Law,” legislation that encourages or requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education to students, information to parents and guardians, and professional development for school personnel. The Every Student Succeeds Act passed today includes provisions championed by Heller, Gillibrand and Feinstein that enable school districts to use federal grant funding to develop and implement these programs for students, parents and guardians, teachers, and other school personnel. In 2013, there were a total of 60,956 instances of child sexual abuse reported to Child Protective Services agencies in the U.S. However, this estimate only represents cases of child sexual abuse reported to and confirmed by child protection authorities. Many such cases are never reported to welfare or legal systems.

“As a father, grandfather, and an outspoken advocate on behalf of the safety and well-being of our nation’s children, I am extremely grateful that fundamental provisions of the Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act are now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Our legislation helps protect America’s students by providing local school districts with resources to develop or enhance child sexual abuse awareness and prevention efforts,” said Senator Dean Heller. “Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in an environment free from abuse, which is why I am proud to work with Senators Gillibrand and Feinstein on this important issue.”

“The Senate has recognized the critical importance of teaching our children an age-appropriate understanding of sexual abuse – both how to recognize it and how to safely report it,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Erin’s Law would give schools the resources they need to teach children these necessary safety skills. It fills an important gap in our prevention and awareness work, and it would make sure that schools are able to provide parents, guardians, and school personnel with the tools they need to help prevent and respond to child sexual abuse.”

“Sexual abuse can scar children for life and we must do everything we can to prevent it,” said Senator Feinstein. “Children are more likely to heal if abuse is detected early, which is why we must ensure they are taught what to do if they are being abused and school personnel are trained to spot the warning signs.”

"For five years I have been traveling from one state capital to another trying to pass Erin's law in my mission of all fifty states requiring that personal body safety be taught,” said Erin Merryn, Erin’s Law Founder and President. “The biggest hurdle I face in each state is Erin's law being an unfunded mandate. It is my biggest road block. With this bill passing it will play a significant role in Erin's law getting passed in the next 24 states. This funding will be an answer to my prayers in my biggest battle for Erin's law. Kids’ lives are waiting to be saved and we must educate them. I didn't have a voice but I am going to ensure every child in America has theirs.”

Additional Heller Provisions Included in Final Passage:

• Senator Heller teamed with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) on an amendment to require governors of states to be consulted during the development of a state education plan to improve education and workforce readiness. Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NV) applauded the amendment with this statement.
• Senator Heller cosponsored Senator Pat Toomey’s (R-PA) amendment, which prohibits federal funds from going to schools that help an employee or contractor get a new job when there is credible information that the individual engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor.

###