Snyder Signs Law To Help Prevent Child Sex Abuse
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation into law that aims to increase education and training in schools to help prevent the sexual abuse of children.
The Republican governor's office announced Wednesday that he signed the bipartisan legislation named "Erin's Law." It's named after Erin Merryn, a woman from Schaumburg, Ill. who was sexually abused as a child and now campaigns nationally for increased education and protections.
The bills allow schools to implement a program to educate and provide resources for students, staff and parents about the warning signs of sexual abuse as well as available resources and counseling for children affected. They also create a one-time task force to develop recommendations on how schools can best handle this education.
"We educate our children on how to say no to drugs, how to stay safe in a fire or tornado and how to avoid strangers. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a reality for some children, and we need to provide age-appropriate education to encourage them to speak up and end the abuse," Snyder said in a statement.
The bills, Public Acts 593-595 of 2012, were among about 30 pieces of legislation Snyder signed.
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