Section 162.203

Title XI EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Chapter 162

Effective - 28 Aug 2019, 2 histories   

  162.203.  Orientation and training requirements for board members initially elected or appointed — refresher training. — 1.  Board members initially elected or appointed under section 162.291, 162.459, 162.471, or 162.581 after August 28, 1993, in addition to the qualifications prescribed in those sections, shall successfully complete orientation and training requirements within one year of the date of the election or appointment.  The orientation and training shall consist of at least eighteen hours and thirty minutes with the cost of such training to be paid by the district.

  2.  The orientation and training required under subsection 1 of this section shall include two hours and thirty minutes of training that provides up-to-date and reliable information on identifying signs of sexual abuse in children and danger signals of potentially abusive relationships between children and adults.  The training shall emphasize how to establish an atmosphere of trust so that students feel their school has concerned adults with whom students can feel comfortable discussing matters related to abuse.  If, before August 28, 2019, a board member completed the orientation and training requirements of this section as they existed before August 28, 2019, the board member shall not be required to complete any additional training other than the refresher training described in subsection 3 of this section.

  3.  Any school board member serving a term as of August 28, 2019, or elected or appointed after August 28, 2019, shall complete at least one hour of refresher training each year of any term in office; except that, the refresher training shall not be required in the year in which the member completes the initial orientation and training under subsection 1 of this section.  The refresher training shall address concepts covered in the initial training including, but not limited to, the prevention of sexual abuse of children.

  4.  All programs providing the orientation and training required under the provisions of this section shall be offered by a statewide association organized for the benefit of members of boards of education or be approved by the state board of education.

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(L. 1993 S.B. 380 § 13, A.L. 2019 H.B. 604)