ASSEMBLY, No. 1067

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman WISNIEWSKI

An Act concerning safety education in schools and child care centers and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and P.L.1993, c.46 (C.30:5B-30 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. Every board of education shall include in an appropriate place in the curricula of elementary and secondary schools, instruction about sexual predators and how to avoid contact with these potential assailants.

    b. As used in this section, sexual predator is a general term for a person who may commit a deviant or criminal act of a sexual nature upon or in the presence of a child.

    c. The Commissioner of Education may promulgate rules and regulations to determine the appropriate instruction about sexual predators, adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils, and to guide its implementation in appropriate places of the curriculum sufficiently for a full and adequate treatment of the subject.

    2. a. Every director of a child care center shall include in the services provided to children in a child care center age-appropriate instruction about sexual predators and how to avoid contact with these potential assailants.

    b. As used in this section, sexual predator is a general term for a person who may commit a deviant or criminal act of a sexual nature upon or in the presence of a child.

    c. The Commissioner of Human Services may promulgate rules and regulations to determine the appropriate instruction about sexual predators, adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils, and to guide its implementation in child care centers sufficiently for a full and adequate treatment of the subject.

    3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires all boards of education and child care center directors to implement educational programs to teach children about sexual predators and how to avoid potential assailants. The bill provides for the instruction to be given in an age-appropriate manner. The bill defines the term sexual predator in a general way to mean a person who may commit an undesirable or criminal act of a sexual nature to or in the presence of a child.

    The protection of our children is of utmost concern and importance. With an alarming number of sexual crimes committed far too often against children, it is urgent that children be taught how to avoid and protect themselves against sexual predators. Schools and day care centers are ideal places for children to learn how to protect themselves, to be aware of potential danger and alert the proper person about the danger.

Requires school boards and child care centers to provide instruction about avoiding sexual predators.