HF 802

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/28/2019 11:52pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring "Erin's Law" personal safety instruction; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 120B.021, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 120B.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Required academic standards.

(a) The following subject areas are
required for statewide accountability:

(1) language arts;

(2) mathematics;

(3) science;

(4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and
citizenship that includes civics consistent with section 120B.02, subdivision 3;

(5) physical education;

(6) health, for which locally developed academic standards apply; and

(7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as
determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least
three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and
visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the
following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.

(b) For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts,
mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students
with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education
program team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate. An
individualized education program team that makes this determination must establish
alternative standards.

(c) The department must adopt the most recent SHAPE America (Society of Health and
Physical Educators) kindergarten through grade 12 standards and benchmarks for physical
education as the required physical education academic standards. The department may
modify and adapt the national standards to accommodate state interest. The modification
and adaptations must maintain the purpose and integrity of the national standards. The
department must make available sample assessments, which school districts may use as an
alternative to local assessments, to assess students' mastery of the physical education
standards beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

(d) A school district may include child sexual abuse prevention instruction in a health
curriculum, consistent with paragraph (a), clause (6). Child sexual abuse prevention
instruction may include age-appropriate instruction on recognizing sexual abuse and assault,
boundary violations, and ways offenders groom or desensitize victims, as well as strategies
to promote disclosure, reduce self-blame, and mobilize bystanders. A school district may
provide instruction under this paragraph in a variety of ways, including at an annual assembly
or classroom presentation. A school district may also provide parents information on the
warning signs of child sexual abuse and available resources. new text begin All grades kindergarten through
grade 12 must present information for at least one hour per year on personal body safety,
referred to as "Erin's Law." This information must at least include information on good
touch, bad touch, private areas of the body, speaking to trusted adults, and not keeping
unsafe secrets. This information must be provided electronically by the Department of
Education to the schools. The Department of Education must send this information by
September 30 of each year starting with September 30, 2019.
new text end

(e) District efforts to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a
result of the provisions of this section must be consistent with sections 120B.10, 120B.11,
and 120B.20.

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $899,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department
of Education for implementing "Erin's Law" under section 120B.021. School districts and
charter schools must receive $1 per pupil based on average daily membership in the
2018-2019 school year. If the appropriation under this section is insufficient, the
commissioner shall prorate the distribution. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end