H.R. 5065

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5065 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5065

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to protect 
students from sexual abuse, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 29, 2025

Mr. Lieu introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to protect 
students from sexual abuse, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Sexual Abuse of K-12 
Students Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Child sexual abuse victims are at greater risk of 
experiencing feelings of guilt and shame, suffering from low 
self-esteem, and developing substance abuse symptoms, 
depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
(2) A 2004 study by the Department of Education indicated 
that 9.6 percent of students in secondary schools reported that 
they had been subjected to sexual misconduct by school 
personnel.
(3) A 2014 report by the Government Accountability Office 
revealed that only 42 States had codes of conduct for school 
personnel of which only 22 dealt with appropriate relationships 
between personnel and students.
(4) Such 2014 report by GAO also revealed that only 18 
States mandated that school districts provide sexual abuse and 
misconduct awareness and prevention training.
(5) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 
1681 et seq.), which prohibits sex discrimination in education 
programs or activities receiving federal funds, requires 
elementary and secondary schools to protect students from 
sexual abuse and misconduct.
(6) Educators are dedicated and tireless individuals 
serving our communities and they make invaluable contributions 
to our country by preparing students for the future. They work 
to provide children with safe and secure environments in which 
to learn and these safe environments should be strengthened by 
including the resources and training necessary to help prevent 
the sexual abuse of students.
(7) It is in the interest of the United States to protect 
students in elementary and secondary schools from sexual abuse 
and misconduct.

SEC. 3. SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING.

(a) In General.--Subpart 2 of part F of title VIII of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 8549D. SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING.

``Each State receiving funds under this Act shall establish and 
implement a statewide policy requiring each local educational agency 
to--
``(1) develop codes of conduct to prevent sexual abuse of 
students by identifying acceptable and unacceptable behavior 
for--
``(A) school personnel with respect to 
relationships with students; and
``(B) students with respect to relationships with 
other students; and
``(2) ensure that school personnel receive training on--
``(A) the codes of conduct described in paragraph 
(1);
``(B) Federal and State requirements with respect 
to reporting child abuse;
``(C) the requirements under title IX of the 
Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) 
with respect to protecting students in elementary and 
secondary schools from sexual abuse and misconduct; and
``(D) sexual abuse and misconduct awareness and 
prevention.''.
(b) Funding.--
(1) Grants for state assessments.--Section 1201(a) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6361(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) To carry out sexual abuse awareness training under 
section 8549D.''.
(2) Types of state activities.--Section 2101(c)(4)(B) of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6611(c)(4)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(xxii) Carrying out sexual abuse 
awareness training under section 8549D.''.
(3) Local uses of funds.--Section 2103(b)(3)(L) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6613(b)(3)(L)) is amended by inserting ``and carrying out 
sexual abuse awareness training under section 8549D'' before 
the semicolon.
(4) Student support and academic enrichment grants.--
Section 4108(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7118(5)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (H)(iii), by striking ``or'' at 
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) carrying out sexual abuse awareness training 
under section 8549D.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Education shall conduct a study and submit a report to 
Congress that includes--
(1) the incidence of sexual abuse of elementary and 
secondary school students by--
(A) other students; and
(B) school personnel; and
(2) recommendations with respect to preventing the sexual 
abuse described in paragraph (1).
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