HB197 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Terri CollinsRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Sexual assault, sexual abuse prevention programs K-12, Erin's Law
Summary: Alabama passes Erin's Law to require child sexual abuse prevention education in public schools and creates a Governor’s Task Force to guide and oversee the program.
What This Bill Does
The bill creates the Governor's Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children to develop guidelines for a K-12 prevention program and to make policy recommendations. It requires all public K-12 schools to implement an age-appropriate prevention program with at least four annual sessions, active learning, and parental involvement, and to ensure staff are trained to handle disclosures and reporting. The act becomes effective immediately after passage.

Who It Affects
Public K-12 students in Alabama, who will receive an age-appropriate prevention education designed to help them recognize abuse, know how to report it, and understand safe and unsafe situations.
Public schools, school staff (teachers, counselors, administrators), and state agencies involved in education and child welfare, who will implement the program, participate in training, and support the Governor's Task Force which develops guidelines and policy recommendations.

Key Provisions
Creation of the Governor's Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children, with eight governor-appointed members from regional school districts plus appointees from the State Superintendent of Education, the Department of Human Resources, the Children's Trust Fund, and designated legislative chairs; task force duties include gathering information, hearing testimony, setting policy goals, and reporting by December 31, 2015.
Public K-12 schools must implement a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program with minimum requirements such as four annual sessions, age-appropriate content, active learning, staff training, evaluation with measurable outcomes, culturally sensitive delivery, potential use of an evidence-based curriculum, and parental involvement.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Sexual Abuse