This bill aims to enhance support for survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools in Washington State. It introduces new requirements for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop and update training materials focused on trauma-informed and survivor-centered responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, misconduct, and assault. Additionally, it amends existing law (RCW 28A.400.317) to explicitly include sexual abuse and assault in the reporting obligations of school employees, ensuring that they receive training on these topics every three years. The training will also incorporate bystander intervention strategies and can utilize the newly developed training materials.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of a student and family guide to school district sexual harassment policies, which must be culturally informed and translated into the most common non-English languages spoken in the state. This guide is to be developed by November 1, 2026, in collaboration with local community experts, and school districts are encouraged to distribute it to students and families, particularly those involved in the sexual harassment complaint process. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on August 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.400.317
Substitute Bill: 28A.400.317