The Education Policy Committee laid over Senate File 16, a bill that would require child physical- and sexual-abuse prevention instruction be included in school health curricula and that districts train instructors on handling disclosures.

Sponsor Sen. Mitchell said the measure—previously discussed in the legislature—aims to add physical-abuse prevention education to the existing child sexual-abuse prevention instruction. The bill's text would require multi-session, developmentally appropriate, culturally inclusive instruction and training for staff on responding to disclosures.

Anura Venkat, a junior at Eastridge High School, told the committee her direct experience supporting a child who endured long-term physical abuse and said mandatory education could help children and families identify abuse and obtain help earlier. "The very least we can do is ensure that every student in the state of Minnesota receives the education they need to protect themselves and those around them to the best of their ability," Venkat said.

Marcia Milliken, executive director of the Minnesota Children's Alliance, supported the bill and cited research showing prevention education should be multi-session and developmentally appropriate; she also emphasized training for staff who receive disclosures, saying adult responses are pivotal in a child's healing process.

The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the education omnibus and noted the parallel work on statewide health standards and mandatory reporting reforms meant to ensure reports are taken seriously.

Next steps: SF 16 will be considered for inclusion in the education omnibus bill; committee members encouraged coordination with the health standards revision process and existing mandatory-reporting rules.