H1832 — An Act relative to preventing the sexual abuse of children and youth

Summary

An Act relative to preventing the sexual abuse of children and youth

Bill Text

• Full text Current

Compared against the Massachusetts General Laws as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill introduces new requirements and definitions related to child sexual abuse prevention, adding educational mandates and procedural changes for hiring individuals in schools.

• Chapter 71, § 38R

  In addition to fulfilling the requirements of General Laws Chapter 71, §38R (relating to background checks for employment in schools), before a school or independent contractor may offer employment to an applicant who would be employed by or work in a school in a position involving direct contact with children, the school or independent contractor shall require the applicant to provide: (1) A list, including name, address, telephone number and other relevant contact information of the applicant, including: (i) Current employer (ii) All former employers that were school entities (iii) All former employers where the applicant was employed in positions that involved contact with children.

  This adds new hiring requirements for schools regarding the background of applicants who will work directly with children.

• Chapter 71, § 38R

  A written authorization that consents to and authorizes disclosure by the applicant's current and former employers in subparagraph (1) of the information requested under subparagraph (3) and the release of related records and that releases those employers from liability that may arise from such disclosure or release of records pursuant to this section.

  This requires a written authorization from applicants to allow past employers to disclose relevant information regarding the applicant's history.

• Chapter 71, § 38R

  For each year or annual training required under this section, each school, state-operated or state-licensed program, or youth-serving organization shall maintain, until at least the third anniversary of the training, records that include the name of the individuals within their school, program, or organization who participated in the training during that year.

  This mandates record-keeping for training on child sexual abuse prevention for at least three years.

• Every school which serves early childhood, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary and secondary school students; any state-operated or state-licensed program that provides educational services to early childhood, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to grade 12 students; and every youth-serving organization shall ensure that employees, contractors, and volunteers receive instruction annually on prevention, identification, and reporting of child sexual abuse.

  This creates a requirement for annual training on child sexual abuse prevention for all school and youth organization personnel.

• Schools, programs, and youth-serving organizations shall develop and implement policies supporting the prevention of sexual abuse, including ongoing staff training, comprehensive screening of prospective employees, and code of conduct development.

  This emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies within educational settings to prevent sexual abuse.

Sponsors

• Jr. John J. Lawn · Primary

Subjects