S.B. 518 Summary

• Requires the department of education to establish and implement a sexual abuse prevention education program beginning in the 2021-2022 school year for public and charter schools in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.

• Mandates a minimum of one hour of instruction per school year that is developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive, covering recognition of sexual abuse, communication skills, vulnerability reduction, and reporting.

• Requires professional training for administrators, teachers, and school personnel on discussing child sexual abuse prevention, understanding abuse effects, handling disclosures, and mandatory reporting obligations.

• Includes a parental involvement component to inform guardians about offender characteristics, grooming behaviors, and strategies to discuss sexual abuse prevention with children.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to the department of education and state public charter school commission for program implementation, and requires status reports to the legislature prior to the 2022, 2023, and 2024 regular sessions.