What: Governor Cox will ceremonially sign the bill that ensures full funding for all K-6 students to have the opportunity to receive sexual abuse prevention curriculum in school. This bill unanimously passed every vote in the 2024 Utah legislative session and was signed into law last month.
When: Wednesday, April 10, at 10:30 AM
Where: Bennion Center, 200 Central Campus Dr Room 101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Senate Bill 205, “Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Amendments,” was unanimously supported at each stage of the 2024 Utah legislative session and was signed into law last month. Governor Cox now holds a ceremonial bill signing to honor and recognize this historic piece of legislation. SB 205 is the cornerstone of The Safe Child Project, The Policy Project’s initiative to prevent child sexual abuse.
SB 205 ensures that 100 percent of Utah K-6 students have the opportunity to receive sexual abuse prevention education by bolstering Utah Code 53G-9-207—a 2014 statute that approved abuse prevention education for K-6 students and outlined family-friendly guardrails for the curriculum. The 2014 law, however, had no funding and was not able to reach the masses.
To change this, SB 205 appropriates $1.5 million in ongoing funding for prevention education in Utah elementary classrooms; creates a state contract with a primary prevention education provider responsible for outreach, tracking, and reporting; provides flexibility and funding for schools using other approved providers; and further ensures that the curriculum is age-appropriate.
“It has been heartening to witness legislators, local leaders, experts in the field, and hundreds of community members come together to pass SB 205 and prevent child sexual abuse,” Emily Bell McCormick, Founder and President of The Policy Project said. “We cannot stress enough the significance of each supporter’s individual contributions to the collective effort. Every vote cast, postcard written, and story shared has played a crucial role in bringing about this positive change.”
In addition to funding from the Legislature, The Policy Project created a public-private partnership with donors who care deeply about ending sexual abuse including Derek and Shelaine Maxfield (of Younique and Saprea), the RLC Family Foundation, The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, the Andrus Family Foundation, and others. This private funding will be used to bolster the state initiative and ensure successful implementation.
The issue of child sexual abuse is more expansive than some might expect. One in seven Utah children experiences sexual abuse, a rate that is higher than the national average. This abuse casts a dark shadow over the lives of its survivors, leading to negative consequences like substance abuse, suicide, and incarceration that persist into adulthood.
Research shows that children’s participation in sexual abuse prevention education significantly reduces these rates. But prior to the passage of SB 205, only 11% of Utah elementary students received prevention education.
“In Utah, we already had a strong foundation in place to protect our children and ensure their safety,” Mary Catherine Perry, Director of Government Affairs for The Policy Project said. “We simply wanted to build upon it. From September to the final week of the 2024 legislative session in late February, we met with dozens of legislators, experts, educators, parents, and community members to ensure that SB 205 was as strong and well-considered as possible and had the best chance of passage.”
After it was drafted and assigned a bill number, SB 205 progressed quickly through its votes. The hearings in front of the Senate Education Committee and the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee were impactful and moving, as legislators spoke in support and survivors took to the microphone to share their own experiences with abuse.
“I appreciate this bill so much. We have had four hours of floor time today and probably have another four coming up, but I think this is easily the most impactful thing we will do today—if not one of the most important of the session,” Representative Andrew Stoddard at the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee hearing said. “I thank the sponsors for working on this and the survivors for coming forward and sharing their stories.”
The Policy Project is deeply grateful for the legislators, community members, and partner organizations—specifically Saprea and Prevent Child Abuse Utah—who facilitated the passage of SB 205 and made a historic investment in Utah’s children.
The Policy Project now plays a crucial role in the implementation of SB 205. We are meeting with the Utah State Board of Education and other stakeholders, ensuring that providers of prevention education are equipped for expansion, and offering parents and community members resources to continue these important conversations beyond the classroom. To gather feedback on our implementation plan, The Policy Project will collaborate with experts from Saprea, the Malouf Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse Utah, A Bolder Way Forward and other organizations at the SAFE Coalition Symposium on April 10.
