Governor Bentley Signs Executive Order Requesting Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Plan

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signs Executive Order 20 authorizing Alabama county children’s policy councils to work with local Child Advocacy Centers to develop child sexual abuse prevention plans in his office at the State Capitol on Thursday, April 28, 2016. (Governor's Office, Daniel Sparkman)
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signs Executive Order 20 authorizing Alabama county children’s policy councils to work with local Child Advocacy Centers to develop child sexual abuse prevention plans in his office at the State Capitol on Thursday, April 28, 2016. (Governor's Office, Daniel Sparkman)

MONTGOMERY—Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday signed an executive order authorizing Alabama county children’s policy councils to work with local Child Advocacy Centers to develop child sexual abuse prevention plans.

“Children are our state’s most precious resource, and protecting Alabama’s children from abuse is critical,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “With this executive order, child sexual abuse prevention plans will be created based on the needs at the local county level. The Alabama Children’s Policy Council, county children’s policy councils and Child Advocacy Centers work together and are a strong voice for protecting children from sexual abuse.  I appreciate each group’s dedication to fighting for children.”

The Governor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children was created with the passage of Erin’s Law during the 2015 Regular Session.  The task force, chaired by State Representative Terri Collins (R-DECATUR) was charged with developing and adopting guidelines for a child sexual abuse prevention program. The 13 member task force delivered its report to Governor Bentley in January and provided several recommendations for the Governor’s consideration, including the creation of standards for child sexual abuse prevention.

The Alabama Policy Council oversees the 67 county children’s policy councils. Alabama law currently requires the county-level councils to review the needs of children in the county as well as the responsibilities assigned to county departments and agencies, working for the well-being of children, encouraging discussion and collaboration among service providers, identifying gaps and areas of duplication among services and acting as a resource for the community.

The executive order requests the following:

  • Report on respective county-level child sexual abuse prevention plans
  • Work with local school systems in developing a program on Mandatory Reporting to be provided at the beginning of each school year as part of each local school system’s in-service
  • Work with local school systems in developing an orientation for all middle school and high school students regarding “peer-to-peer” sexual abuse crimes to be provided at the beginning of each school year

The prevention plan must be submitted by July 1, 2017.

A copy of Executive Order 20 is available here.