Del. bill could increase child sex abuse education in schools

State lawmakers introduced a bill last week would implement a child sexual abuse curriculum in schools.

Senate Bill 213, also known as Erin’s Law, has bipartisan support and would require the Department of Health and Social Services and the Child Protection Accountability Commission to develop a curriculum for public schools. School employees, pre-K through 6th grade students and their parents would all be educated about personal body safety and child sexual abuse.

“the educational improvement and curriculum development I think is essential. It’s kind of just raising the bar on the awareness issue,” Said State House Minority Leader Danny Short.

Short says he sees this bill being passed before the end of this legislative session. Currently it’s in committee. Similar bills have already been enacted in 26 other states. Its name, Erin’s Law, is in honor of Erin Merryn, a victim of child sexual abuse who has been working across the country to have this legislation passed.