BILL NUMBER: S6332

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
establishing an educational program related to the prevention of sexual
harassment in schools

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to establish and develop an educa-
tional program within the State Education Department related to the
prevention of sexual harassment in grades kindergarten through twelve.
Such program shall be further defined by the Commissioner in regulation
and shall be designed to educate students, parents and school personnel
about the prevention of sexual harassment in schools.  The State Educa-
tion Commissioner, in collaboration with any other stakeholder groups
deemed appropriate by such Commissioner, shall develop age-appropriate
model curriculum resources, including exemplar lesson plans, and best
practice instructional resources for students, parents and school
personnel designed to prevent sexual harassment in schools. Such model
curriculum, resources, lesson plans and instructional resources shall
include but not be limited to guidelines and methods of prevention,
              

indicators and warning signs of sexual harassment, guide lines and meth-
ods to prevent sexual harassment and how to report and handle complaints
of sexual harassment in schools.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:;

Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 57 to read as follows:
57. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, and
subject to an appropriation, the department of education shall contract
with an outside entity who has expertise in sexual harassment training
in schools to establish a sexual harassment prevention and education
program overseen by such department. The commissioner of education shall
work with such outside entity, to establish and develop an educational
program within such department related to the prevention of sexual
harassment in grades kindergarten through twelve. Such program shall be
further defined by such commissioner in regulation and shall be designed
to educate students, parents and school personnel about the prevention
of sexual harassment in schools. Such Commissioner, in collaboration
with any other stakeholder groups deemed appropriate by such commission-
er, shall develop:

a. age-appropriate model curriculum resources, including exemplar lesson
plans, and best practice instructional resources for students, parents
and school personnel designed to prevent sexual harassment in schools.
Such model curriculum, resources, lesson plans and instructional
resources shall include but not be limited to guidelines and methods of
prevention, indicators and warning signs of sexual harassment, guide
lines and methods to prevent sexual harassment and how to report
complaints of sexual harassment in schools

b. instructional tools and materials for students, parents and school
personnel, which shall be reviewed periodically shall be made available
for voluntary use in schools health education classes.

c. public availability of all materials related to the sexual harassment
education program on such department's website.
 
JUSTIFICATION:

The justification for this bill is to establish a focused sexual harass-
ment prevention education program, one of which does not currently exist
in a comprehensive and focused way; considering that sexual harassment
is treated as a subtopic in existing sex education curriculum. Sexual
harassment is a complex topic, which is incredibly sensitive, nuanced,
and dynamic. Such a topic requires a careful and focused educational
approach. This type of education is designed to make a very clear under
standing, in an age-appropriate way, of which behaviors are appropriate
and which behaviors are not appropriate.  Providing such education is
not only necessary, but it is a vital way to maintain decency and posi-
tive relationships in our schools. If children do not formally learn
what sexual harassment is, they are more likely to engage in such offen-
sive behaviors. It is appropriate and necessary for this type of educa-
tion to occur to prevent sexual harassing behaviors, which can lead to
sexual assault.

The State Education Commissioner, in collaboration with any other stake-
holder groups deemed appropriate by such commissioner, shall develop
age-appropriate model curriculum resources, including exemplar lesson
plans, and best practice instructional resources for students, parents
and school personnel designed to prevent sexual harassment in schools.
Such model curriculum, resources, lesson plans and instructional
resources shall include but not be limited to guidelines and methods of
prevention, indicators and warning signs of sexual harassment, guide
lines and methods to prevent sexual harassment and how to report and
handle complaints of sexual harassment in schools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18: S.8068/A.10129 - Referred to education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The cost of the program requirements is estimated at $300,000. This sum
has been secured in the 2019-2020 state budget. In collaboration with
the State Education Department,2019-2020 Budget appropriation language
has been approved and reads as follows: Budget Appropriation Language
General Fund State Purposes Account 10050 - For services and expenses
for the development of resources and training related to sexual harass-
ment and healthy relationships in schools $300,000.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on July 1st after the date on which it
becomes Law.