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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
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HB 2992: pilot program; sexual abuse prevention
Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4
Committee on Education
Overview
Establishes the Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Pilot Program (Pilot Program) in the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Appropriates $100,000 from the Victim Compensation and Assistance Fund (Fund) in FY 2027 for the Pilot Program.
History
The Fund is administered by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) and consists of: 1) monies collected from a $9 penalty on criminal and civil violations; 2) monies collected from a 10% assessment of a working prisoner's gross compensation; 3) unclaimed victim restitution; 4) revenues derived from community supervision fees; and 5) interstate compact fees. Subject to legislative appropriation, ACJC must allocate Fund monies to public and private agencies to establish, maintain and support programs that compensate and assist crime victims (A.R.S. § 41-2407) (FY 2026 Baseline Book).
Each school operated by a school district or charter school must post in a clearly visible location in a public area of the school that is readily accessible to students a sign that contains: 1) the telephone number of the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline; 2) instructions to call 911 for emergencies; and 3) directions for accessing the Department of Child Safety (DCS) website for more information on reporting child abuse, neglect and exploitation (A.R.S. § 15-160.01).
Provisions
1. Establishes the Pilot Program within ADE. (Sec. 1)
2. Repeals the Pilot Program on January 1, 2029. (Sec. 1)
3. Appropriates $100,000 in FY 2027 from the Fund to ADE for the Pilot Program. (Sec. 2)
4. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing until June 30, 2028. (Sec. 2)
5. Requires ADE, by July 1, 2027, to select six public schools that instruct 6th-8th grade students to participate in the Pilot Program during the 2027-2028 school year. (Sec. 1)
6. Allows ADE to consult with DCS and organizations operated by survivors of grooming or human trafficking in developing the Pilot Program. (Sec. 1)
7. Requires the Pilot Program to include, for teachers, at least four hours of in-person, evidence-based instructional modules that may include:
a. training regarding the prevention and identification of, and responses to, child sexual abuse and assault; and
b. resources to further student, teacher and parental awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse and assault. (Sec. 1)
8. Mandates the Pilot Program include, for students, at least three hours of in-person evidence-based instruction and age-appropriate educational materials designed for children in the 6th-8th grades regarding child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention. (Sec. 1)
9. Details the evidence-based instruction for students may include:
a. skills to recognize child sexual abuse and assault, boundary violations and unwanted forms of contact; and
b. strategies that promote disclosure, reduce self-blame and mobilize bystanders. (Sec. 1)
10. Requires the Pilot Program to include a uniform child sexual abuse and assault response policy and reporting procedure that is based on best practices and that may include:
a. actions that victims of child sexual abuse and assault may take to obtain assistance;
b. intervention and counseling options for victims of child sexual abuse and assault;
c. access to educational resources to enable victims of child sexual abuse and assault to succeed in school; and
d. uniform procedures for reporting instances of child sexual abuse and assault to school staff members. (Sec. 1)
11. Permits ADE to contract with a provider to implement the Pilot Program if the provider meets the prescribed Pilot Program requirements. (Sec. 1)
12. Prohibits a public school participating in the Pilot Program from requiring any student to participate. (Sec. 1)
13. Exempts a student from participating in the Pilot Program if the student's parent provides written notification to the public school. (Sec. 1)
14. Instructs each public school participating in the Pilot Program to report to ADE and DCS by October 1, 2028, specified information regarding the Pilot Program.
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Initials CH/IG HB 2992
2/15/2026 Page 0 Education
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