2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 SENATE BILL 437
September 20, 2023 - Introduced by Senators JACQUE, TESTIN, FELZKOWSKI and
SPREITZER, cosponsored by Representatives GUNDRUM, BEHNKE, ALLEN,
BRANDTJEN, GOEBEN, ORTIZ-VELEZ, TUSLER and WICHGERS. Referred to
Committee on Education.
1 AN ACT to renumber and amend 118.019 (2) (d); to amend 118.019 (2) (a) 2.;
2 and to create 118.019 (2m) (k) (intro.) and 1. (intro.), 118.019 (2m) (k) 1. b. to
3 i. and 118.019 (2m) (k) 2. of the statutes; relating to: including
4 age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention instruction in a human growth
5 and development instructional program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires a school board that provides a human growth and
development instructional program to include an age-appropriate curriculum on
child sexual abuse prevention.
Current law allows, but does not require, a school board to provide a human
growth and development instructional program in grades kindergarten to 12. If the
school board elects to provide such an instructional program, current law provides
a recommended instructional program that includes information about reproductive
and sexual anatomy and physiology; the benefits of and reasons for abstaining from
sexual activity; and how alcohol and drug use affect responsible decision making.
Under current law, if any part of the recommended instructional program is provided
to pupils, the school board must also provide specific information on required
subjects in the same course in the same year. The list of information on required
subjects includes presenting abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice
of behavior for unmarried pupils; providing instruction in parental responsibility
and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and their children; explaining
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SENATE BILL 437
pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth; and the process by which a parent
may relinquish a newborn child to a law enforcement officer, emergency medical
services practitioner, or hospital staff member. The bill adds to this list providing an
age-appropriate curriculum on child sexual abuse prevention that includes 1)
instruction on specific topics and 2) providing parents and guardians with facts and
clear explanations related to child sexual abuse topics.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
1 SECTION 1. 118.019 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
2 118.019 (2) (a) 2. Reproductive and sexual anatomy and physiology, including
3 biological, psychosocial, emotional, and intellectual changes that accompany
4 maturation, and the anatomically correct terms for body parts.
5 SECTION 2. 118.019 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 118.019 (2m) (k) 1. a.
6 and amended to read:
7 118.019 (2m) (k) 1. a. Identify Identifying counseling, medical, and legal
8 resources for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, including resources for escaping
9 violent relationships.
10 SECTION 3. 118.019 (2m) (k) (intro.) and 1. (intro.) of the statutes are created
11 to read:
12 118.019 (2m) (k) (intro.) Provides an age-appropriate curriculum on child
13 sexual abuse prevention that includes all of the following:
14 1. (intro.) Instruction on all of the following:
15 SECTION 4. 118.019 (2m) (k) 1. b. to i. of the statutes are created to read:
16 118.019 (2m) (k) 1. b. Age-appropriate facts about sexual abuse.
17 c. How to say no and reject unwanted advances.
18 d. How to set and respect personal boundaries.
19 e. Differences between public and private parts of the body.
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SENATE BILL 437 SECTION 4
1 f. Autonomy over decision-making related to the body, empowerment, and
2 developing assertiveness skills.
3 g. How to distinguish between safe and unsafe touch and between secrets and
4 surprises.
5 h. How to identify trustworthy adults.
6 i. How to communicate incidents of sexual abuse to trustworthy adults.
7 SECTION 5. 118.019 (2m) (k) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
8 118.019 (2m) (k) 2. Providing parents and guardians with facts and clear
9 explanations related to child sexual abuse topics, including all of the following:
10 a. Adverse childhood experiences and trauma.
11 b. Adults' responsibility to prevent child sexual abuse.
12 c. How to identify characteristics and behaviors of offenders, including the
13 behavior known as grooming.
14 d. Warning signs of child sexual abuse.
15 e. How to discuss child sexual abuse prevention with children.
16 f. How to report child sexual abuse.
17 g. What makes children vulnerable to child sexual abuse and skills to reduce
18 a child's vulnerability to sexual abuse.
19 h. How to promote trauma-informed environments and responses.
20 (END)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118.019(2)(a)2, 118.019