HB2527 HED FBM 2-11

FLOOR BOOK MEMO

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

ATTORNEY: CK

Com Sub for HB 2527:Creating a Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children

SPONSORS:                              Delegates Pasdon, Marcum, Kessinger, R. Phillips and Upson

DATE INTRODUCED:                  February 11, 2015

CODE REFERENCE:                   §49-2-8 (New)

PURPOSE:                                   The bill establishes the Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children which is intended to share ideas, gather information, share best practices in the child welfare and advocacy fields, and ultimately to make recommendations to the Legislature and Governor regarding state policy for decreasing incidence of child sexual abuse. The membership includes representatives from the education, child advocacy, child protection, law enforcement, and legislative sectors, as well as citizen members. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to the Legislature and Governor for decreasing incidents of sexual abuse of children. The bill provides that members serve without compensation and do not receive expense reimbursement.

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE:       The Education Committee reported a Committee Substitute which removed the provisions requiring the Speaker and President to appoint members from their respective houses, and designated the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Education and Health and Human Resources, or their designees, to serve as members representing the House and Senate; specified that the initial Task Force meeting will be set by joint call of the Education Committee Chairs; added a practicing school counselor, the CEO of the Center for Professional Development (CPD), and the Executive Director of the WV Sheriffs’s Association as members; removed the requirement that the Task Force be housed at the CPD; removed the requirement that members represent the geographic diversity of the state; and made technical corrections.

TITLE:                                          OK

FISCAL NOTE:                          None

EFFECTIVE DATE:                    Regular (90 Days from Passage)

COMMITTEE REFERENCE:        Finance (Reference Waived)