SEXUAL ASSAULT INFO FOR STUDENTS                                                S.B. 66:

                                                                                         SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                         REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 66 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Stephanie Chang

Committee:  Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to do the following:

-- Require the Department of Education (MDE) to develop informational material relating to sexual assault and sexual harassment appropriate for pupils in grades six through 12.

-- Require the MDE to make the material available to all public schools that operate grades six through 12.

-- Require public schools to disseminate to pupils the informational material.

-- Require public schools to disseminate to pupils contact information for the school's Title IX coordinator and the school's policies on sexual assault and sexual harassment.

-- Encourage public schools to provide sexual assault and sexual harassment response training to all educators and school personnel who had contact with pupils.

Proposed MCL 380.1508 & 380.1526b                                                              

BRIEF RATIONALE

Sexual assault is defined as sexual contact or behavior occurring without the victim's consent. According to testimony, one in nine girls under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault by an adult. Some people believe that the lack of education about sexual assault leads to its higher prevalence, and so it has been suggested that the MDE be required to develop age-appropriate informational material related to the topic for pupils in grade six through 12.

                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Tyler P. VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the MDE and a minimal fiscal impact on local school districts, ISDs, and PSAs. The MDE is required by the MDE budget bill to develop these materials in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, which means the costs would be incorporated into current appropriations. The bill would make the requirement permanent and not subject to annual appropriation bills.

Local school district, ISDs, and PSAs could experience a minimal fiscal impact to disseminate the materials from the MDE and to require training for school employees every five years. The costs would be greater for schools that currently do not provide information to student or require the employee training specified in the bill. Since many school districts, ISDs, and PSAs provide related materials to students and require staff training, the costs likely would be minimal for the remaining schools to conform to the bill's requirements.

Date Completed:  4-24-23                                Fiscal Analyst:  Cory Savino, PhD

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.