06 LC 36
0019
House
Bill 1152
By:
Representatives Buckner of the
76th,
Reece of the
11th,
Manning of the
32nd,
Houston of the
170th,
and Marin of the
96th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum in elementary
and secondary education, so as to provide for legislative purpose; to provide
that each local board of education shall prescribe a course of study in personal
safety skills and abduction avoidance; to authorize such local boards to
supplement and develop the exact approach of content areas of such minimum
course of study; to provide that the State Board of Education shall prescribe a
minimum course of study and shall establish standards for its administration; to
provide for certain topics of instruction; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum in elementary and
secondary education, is amended by adding at the end thereof a new Code Section
20-2-148 to read as follows:
∀20-2-148.
(a)
The purpose of this Code section shall be to educate students as to the
importance of personal safety and avoiding abduction by providing appropriate
educational programs for children in this state. The General Assembly finds and
declares that our society must foster education which empowers children to react
in situations with personal safety skills utilizing safety plans and
strategies.
(b)
Each local board of education shall prescribe a course of study in personal
safety and abduction avoidance for students in grades kindergarten through 12
for the purpose of teaching the young people of this state about personal safety
skills and abduction avoidance. Such course of study may implement either the
minimum course of study provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section or
its equivalent, as approved by the State Board of Education. Each local board
of education may supplement the content areas of such minimum course of study as
it may deem appropriate.
(c)
The State Board of Education shall prescribe a minimum course of study in
personal safety skills and abduction avoidance and shall establish standards for
its administration. Such minimum course of study shall include but not be
limited to instruction relating to:
(1)
Statistics on abduction, bullying, child abuse, and sexual assault;
(2)
Using confidence, self-esteem, and personal safety skills when faced with
dangerous situations;
(3)
Using plans and strategies while practicing realistic physical skills to escape
violence and abductors;
(4)
Community resources that are available to victims of family violence, child
abuse, or abduction; and
(5)
Criminal penalties for assault and battery and child abuse offenses as well as
abduction.
A
manual setting out the details of such course of study shall be prepared by or
approved by the State School Superintendent in cooperation with the State Board
of Education.
(d)
The minimum course of study to be prescribed by the State Board of Education
pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section shall be ready for
implementation not later than July 1, 2008. Each local board of education shall
no later than July 1, 2008, implement such minimum course of study or its
approved equivalent and certify such implementation by letter to the State Board
of
Education.∀
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.