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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: ED DPA 6-5-1-0 |
HB 2992: pilot program; sexual abuse prevention
Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4
House Engrossed
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 state General Fund (GF) in FY 2027 for the Pilot Program.
History
Each school operated by a school district or charter school must post, in a clearly visible location in a public area that is readily accessible to students, a sign that contains: 1) the phone 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).
Statute specifies that age- and grade-appropriate classroom instruction regarding child assault awareness and abuse prevention is allowed (A.R.S. § 15-711.01).
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 state GF 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 to participate in the Pilot Program during the 2027-2028 school year. (Sec. 1)
6. Directs ADE to consult with DCS and organizations operated by survivors of grooming or human trafficking in developing the Pilot Program and its curriculum. (Sec. 1)
7. Requires the Pilot Program to include, for teachers, at least four hours of in-person, evidence-based instructional modules that are provided by an organization selected by ADE and that may include:
a. training regarding the prevention and identification of, and responses to, child sexual abuse and assault, including exploitation, grooming, grooming with the intent to exploit and technology-facilitated abuse; and
b. resources to further student, teacher and parental awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse and assault, including exploitation, grooming, grooming with the intent to exploit and technology-facilitated abuse. (Sec. 1)
8. Mandates the Pilot Program include, for students, at least three hours of age-appropriate, in-person, evidence-based instruction provided by an ADE-selected organization and age-appropriate educational materials designed for children in kindergarten or the 1st-12th grades regarding child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention, including exploitation, grooming behaviors and grooming with the intent to exploit. (Sec. 1)
9. Specifies the evidence-based instruction for students may include:
a. skills to recognize:
i. child sexual abuse and assault;
ii. boundary violations and unwanted forms of contact;
iii. grooming behaviors, including manipulation, trust building, secrecy, desensitization and isolation;
iv. exploitation and grooming with the intent to exploit, including online grooming, sextortion and technology-facilitated exploitation; and
v. patterns, tactics and warning signs associated with grooming and exploitation; and
b. strategies to 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. Requires ADE to select one or more organizations that meet prescribed requirements to provide the instructional modules for teachers or the instruction for students, or both. (Sec. 1)
13. Directs ADE, beginning on the general effective date, to gather stakeholder input to develop a Pilot Program curriculum by:
a. soliciting feedback from representatives as specified; and
b. selecting an organization that meets prescribed requirements to:
i. develop the Pilot Program curriculum;
ii. coordinate stakeholder input; and
iii. ensure the curriculum is survivor-informed, prevention-focused and appropriate for students. (Sec. 1)
14. Subjects the curriculum developed by the organization selected by ADE to approval by the State Board of Education and ADE. (Sec. 1)
15. Prohibits a public school participating in the Pilot Program from requiring any student to participate. (Sec. 1)
16. Exempts a student from participating in the Pilot Program if the student's parent provides written notification to the public school. (Sec. 1)
17. 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. (Sec. 1)
18. Defines grooming and exploitation. (Sec. 1)
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22. Initials CH/IG HB 2992
23. 3/23/2026 Page 0 House Engrossed
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