2014 -- H 7366

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Johnston, San Bento, Messier, Hull, and O`Grady

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 40 of the General Laws entitled "HUMAN SERVICES" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 11.1

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION ACT

     40-11.1-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Child

Sexual Abuse Prevention Act."

     40-11.1-2. Findings of fact. -- (a) The general assembly finds and declares:

     (1) Child sexual abuse poses a serious threat to the health and safety of young people and

its damaging effects can last a lifetime, including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression,

substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, aggression, social isolation, self inflected harm,

criminal behavior and violent offenses.

     (2) It is estimated that one in ten (10) children will be sexually abused before they turn

eighteen (18).

     (3) Young children are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse.

     (4) Approximately ninety percent (90%) of children who are victims of sexual abuse

know their abuser.

     (5) The incidence of child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation and child abduction can

be reduced by raising awareness and building community based support for prevention through

training programs for coaches, trusted adults, who can act as advocates for children.

     (b) Therefore, it is hereby declared coaches and assistant coaches of youth sports

programs must complete a child sexual abuse training program that meet the requirements of this

section to recognize, prevent, and react to incidents of child sexual abuse.

     40-11.1-3. Definitions. -- (a) For the purpose of this section, the term "youth sports

programs" means and includes any program organized for recreational athletic competition and/or

instruction, and whose participants are:

     (1) Minors; or

     (2) Physically or mentally disabled, regardless of age.

     (b) "Minor" means any person not having reached eighteen (18) years of age;

     (c) "Child sexual abuse" (CSA) means any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or

between two (2) minors, when one exerts power over the other; forcing, coercing or persuading a

child to engage in any type of sexual act; and non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to

pornography, voyeurism, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.

     40-11.1-4. Child sexual abuse prevention training requirements. -- (a) Coaches and

assistant coaches of youth sports programs with children under age eighteen (18) shall be

responsible for completing a child sexual abuse prevention training program.

     (b) The Rhode Island department of health shall work with The Rhode Island State

Alliance of YMCAs to maintain a list, available online, of approved training programs that meet

the following criteria: must provide techniques on how to recognize, prevent and react to

incidents of child sexual abuse based on best practices, available online or in person, offered in

English and in Spanish, and provide a minimum of two (2) hours of instruction time.

     (c) Participating organizations shall require annual proof of current and valid CSA

training from all coaches in their youth sports programs prior to the start of coaching. Coaches

must retake a CSA prevention training course every five (5) years and maintain a copy of their

CSA prevention training certificate.

     (d) Coaches must follow proper reporting procedures as set forth in § 40-11-3 if they

suspect a child is suffering from sexual abuse.

     (e) The department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to

effectuate the purposes of this section.

     (f) The department of health, in collaboration with the department of children, youth and

families, shall report annually to the general assembly the status of the Child Sexual Abuse

Prevention Act.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION ACT

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     This act would create the "Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Act" which would require

coaches and assistant coaches to complete a child sexual abuse prevention training program, with

at least two (2) hours of instruction time. The course would be retaken every five (5) years.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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