Trenton – Senate Education Chair M. Teresa Ruiz issued the following statement marking the beginning of National Child Abuse Prevention Month:
“Child abuse is an evil that unfortunately exists in every corner of our society. Whether it is at home, an academic setting, or anywhere in-between we have a duty to protect children and ensure their safety. For this reason I have spearheaded a package of bills that raises child abuse awareness and strengthens our child abuse prevention protections in our schools. As we raise awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month we must also make a commitment to do everything in our power to safeguard our children in the times to come.
“Last month, the governor signed three bills I had worked on relating to child abuse protocols. The first one mandates sexual assault and child abuse training for DOE arbitrators. Another requires school districts to notify the State Board of Examiners when a teaching staff member fails to report child abuse for determination of revocation or suspension of certificate and the last one requires the Attorney General to develop protocol for retaining footage from school surveillance systems.”