AN ACT TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(47)    Duty regarding abuse and neglect. – The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, shall adopt a policy to be implemented by the governing body of each public secondary school, as defined in G.S. 115C‑105.51, to provide students in grades six through 12 with information on child abuse and neglect, including age‑appropriate information on sexual abuse. This policy shall apply at public secondary schools under the control of the State Board of Education, including schools operated under Article 9C of this Chapter. Information shall be provided in the form of (i) a document provided to all students at the beginning of each school year and (ii) a display posted in visible, high‑traffic areas throughout each public secondary school. The document and display shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

a.         Likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect, including age‑appropriate information on sexual abuse.

b.         The telephone number used for reporting abuse and neglect to the department of social services in the county in which the local school administrative unit is located, in accordance with G.S. 7B‑301.

c.         A statement that information reported pursuant to sub‑subdivision (47)b. of this section shall be held in the strictest confidence, to the extent permitted by law, pursuant to G.S. 7B‑302(a1).

d.         Available resources developed pursuant to G.S. 115C‑105.51, including the anonymous safety tip line application.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

(e2)    Abuse and Neglect Policy. – A charter school shall implement the policy addressing student awareness of child abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse, adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C‑12(47).

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(7f)     Abuse and neglect policy. – A regional school shall implement the policy addressing student awareness of child abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse, adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C‑12(47).

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 116‑11(12e) reads as rewritten:

(12e)  The Board of Governors shall develop and operate an anonymous tip line in accordance with G.S. 115C‑105.51 for all public secondary schools, as defined in that section, operated under the control of the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors shall implement the policy addressing student awareness of child abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse, adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C‑12(47) for all public secondary schools under the control of the Board of Governors.

SECTION 2.(d)  Section 6(d) of S.L. 2018‑32 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(1a)    G.S. 115C‑12(47), Duty regarding abuse and neglect.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2021‑2022 school year.