SENATE, No. 1097

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 9, 1996

By Senators BUBBA and CONNORS

An Act regarding child abuse education in the public schools and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

     1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

    a. The Division of Youth and Family Services has issued a report entitled "Children at Risk 1993 and 1994" that maintains that the effectiveness of early intervention in combating child abuse is diminished because many of the victims of child abuse are unaware that their mistreatment is of a criminal nature or may feel they deserve such treatment as punishment or discipline. In addition, the report finds that many students are unaware of available support services to help child abuse victims;

    b. As evidenced by the establishment of the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect pursuant to P.L. 1994, c. 119, the State of New Jersey has identified the need to take assertive measures to address the dangers of child abuse; and,

    c. School authorities by the nature of their relationship with students are sensitive to the health and welfare of students, and the introduction of a curriculum in the public schools to educate children on the nature of child abuse and available support services for victims is appropriate.

    2. a. Every board of education may include instruction on the nature of child abuse adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school pupils. The student instruction shall enable pupils to recognize the difference between criminal child abuse and appropriate discipline. The instruction shall further emphasize the resources available to the victims of child abuse.

    b. The Department of Education shall develop and establish guidelines and curriculum materials on child abuse for utilization by local school districts.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to curriculum offerings in the 1996-97 school year.

STATEMENT

     This bill provides that every board of education may include instruction on the nature of child abuse adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school pupils. This instruction shall enable pupils to recognize the difference between criminal child abuse and appropriate discipline and emphasize the resources available to the victims of child abuse. This bill also provides that the Department of Education shall develop and establish guidelines and curriculum materials on child abuse for utilization by local school districts.

     This bill is in response to a report of the Division of Youth and Family Services entitled "Children at Risk 1993 and 1994", which identified that the effectiveness of early intervention in combating child abuse is diminished because many of the victims of child abuse are unaware that their mistreatment is of a criminal nature or may feel that they deserve such treatment as punishment or discipline. In addition, early intervention is jeopardized because many students are unaware of the available resources for child abuse victims.

Permits school boards to provide instruction concerning child abuse.