Rep. Spohnholz’s Newsletter: Fall Update
Dear Neighbors,
Fall is in full swing and I wanted to give you a couple of updates and share with you a couple of invitations.
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Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: Child Abuse Prevention Efforts & Budget Update
I hope you wore blue yesterday. In the Capitol, and across the state, wearing blue meant that you support raising awareness and preventing child abuse in your community. We hosted a rally on the Capitol steps with Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Val Davidson as our speaker. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and we are taking steps to raise awareness and enact policies that will prevent child abuse. Last year our focus was Erin’s Law and Bree’s Law, that passed last June, and is now being implemented.
Read More →NEWS: Alaskans Encouraged to Wear Blue Today to Raise Awareness of Child Abuse
Juneau – Today, members of the Alaska Legislature will join the effort to raise awareness of child abuse by participating in Go Blue Friday. Representatives Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) and Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage) are asking lawmakers and staff to show support for efforts to stop child abuse in Alaska by wearing the color blue today.
Read More →NEWS: Erin’s Law and Bree’s Law Signed by Governor Walker
ANCHORAGE – Thursday, Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed the Alaska Safe Children’s Act into law during a ceremony in Anchorage. The Alaska Safe Children’s Act includes Erin’s Law and Bree’s Law. Erin’s Law requires school districts to teach personal body safety information to elementary and secondary school students. Erin’s Law also requires school staff be trained on how to recognize the signs of child sexual abuse. Rep. Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) sponsored Erin’s Law legislation in the last two legislative sessions and was on hand for Thursday night’s bill signing ceremony.
Read More →NEWS: Rep. Tarr Applauds Introduction of Federal Legislation to Help Protect Children from Sexual Abuse
ANCHORAGE – Earlier this month Alaska became the 26th state to pass legislation to implement Erin’s Law to give students personal body safety information to protect themselves from sexual abuse. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) was instrumental in passage of Erin’s Law in Alaska and she wholeheartedly supports the Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act, which was introduced Thursday in the U.S. Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dean Heller (R-NV), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The legislation will fund school programs to implement Erin’s Law.
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