SENATE BILL 57

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Jane M. Garcia

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILDREN; CREATING THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION TASK FORCE; PROVIDING DUTIES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION TASK FORCE--CREATED--MEMBERS--DUTIES--REPORT.--

          A. The governor shall appoint a "child sexual abuse prevention task force" to serve from the date of appointment until December 1, 2012. The task force shall consist of the following members:

                (1) the secretary of children, youth and families, who shall serve as chairperson of the task force;

                (2) the secretary of public education, who shall serve as the vice chairperson of the task force;

                (3) the secretary of health, or the secretary's designee;

                (4) the secretary of public safety, or the secretary's designee;

                (5) the secretary of Indian affairs, or the secretary's designee;

                (6) the public defender, or the public defender's designee;

                (7) the following members appointed by the governor so as to reflect the geographic distribution of the members and the cultural diversity of the state:

                     (a) a district attorney;

                     (b) a representative of the New Mexico school superintendents association;

                     (c) one public school teacher, one public school counselor and one public school social worker; and

                     (d) a representative of an organization involved with child sexual abuse prevention;

                (8) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

                (9) one public member appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate.

          B. Non-ex-officio members of the task force shall be individuals who are actively involved in the areas of prevention, detection, reporting, investigation, prosecution and treatment of child sexual abuse.

          C. The task force shall:

                (1) study:

                     (a) academic research concerning child sexual abuse prevention and efforts in other states to prevent child sexual abuse;

                     (b) data concerning child sexual abuse in New Mexico; and

                     (c) current efforts and policies of state agencies, school districts, other local government agencies and community-based programs for the prevention, detection, reporting, prosecution and treatment of child sexual abuse;

                (2) receive reports and testimony from state and local agencies, public schools, community-based and other public and private organizations involved in child sexual abuse prevention or treatment and other interested persons; and

                (3) make recommendations to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2012 for methods and practices to reduce child sexual abuse in New Mexico. In making the recommendations, the task force shall focus on specific statutory changes and changes to state, local and public school policies that increase and improve prevention and reporting of child sexual abuse and methods to improve cooperation between and among state agencies, district attorneys, public schools and community-based organizations involved in preventing, detecting, reporting, prosecuting and treating child sexual abuse.

          D. As part of its duties to focus on public policies related to child sexual abuse, the task force, in cooperation with school districts, shall develop a school-targeted state policy to address child sexual abuse that includes:

                (1) a model age-appropriate curriculum for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade;

                (2) training for school personnel on child sexual abuse, including strategies for providing emotional and educational support for sexually abused children;

                (3) educational information for parents and guardians to be included in school handbooks on the warning signs of child sexual abuse, along with assistance, referral and resource information;

                (4) a statewide master list of available counseling and resources for children affected by sexual abuse, listed by community and school district; and

                (5) methods for increasing teacher, student and parent awareness of issues involving child sexual abuse.

     SECTION 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.