NC bill requires schools to train staff on reporting, preventing child abuse and sex trafficking

NORTH CAROLINA — Wednesday marks a landmark deadline for school districts across North Carolina. It’s when the state will require each district to select an employee training program for reporting and preventing child sex abuse and sex trafficking.

It’s part of Senate Bill 199 that state lawmakers unanimously approved in October.

According to the law, the training applies to school personnel who work directly with students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

Hannah Arrowood from Present Age Ministries said North Carolina, and Charlotte specifically, has one of the top rates of human trafficking in the nation.

“Our location, the interstates, the large sporting events, all of those things create this hub effect for the Charlotte metro-area,” Arrowood said.

She said CMS employees have worked with her organization over the last five years to identify signs of sex trafficking, even before the law passed.

Agents see increase in human trafficking cases Agents see increase in human trafficking cases

“Teachers are often unaware of this issue, that’s why this is so important,” Arrowood said.

The training will be more strict, and it will be created by each school district.

It will be required to include things like learning the warning signs of sex abuse and sex trafficking and steps on how to intervene properly. The training will then be required for school staff beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.

The bill also states all 18-year-old students become mandatory reporters, meaning some high school seniors and juniors will also fall under the law. If they don’t, they could be charged with a misdemeanor.

“They’re going to be more equipped and more aware of situations than the adults in their lives are going to be,” Arrowood said.

Channel 9 asked Cabarrus, Union, Iredell, Gaston, Mooresville and Mecklenburg school districts if they’ve selected a program yet.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said their employees have worked with a local organization over the last five years to identify signs of sex trafficking, even before the law passed.

The new training requirements are part of an overhaul of the state’s sexual assault laws.

Other changes include extending the statute of limitations for civil suits against perpetrators of child abuse and includes a number of other safety protections for children.

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