During the 81st Legislative Session, the Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Tan Parker's House Bill 1041, also known as Jenna's Law. Jenna's Law, supported by numerous children's advocacy groups across the state, directs school districts to include a child sexual abuse preventive policy in their school handbook and district improvement plan.

Parker stated, “Statistics have shown that most abused children are being abused by someone they trust. Since children attend school daily, it is important that teachers, parents, and school employees are educated as to the signs of child sexual abuse. With the new school year just around the corner, my hope is this legislation will raise much needed awareness as to the signs of child sexual abuse so that abused children may be identified and receive the immediate help they need.” House Bill 1041 is endorsed by the Texas PTA, Children's Advocacy Center for Denton County, TexProtects and United Ways of Texas, all of which see this legislation as an important step toward proactively promoting child sexual abuse prevention.

Dan Leal, Executive Director of the Children's Advocacy Center for Denton County states, “Jenna’s Law gives us an opportunity to work with our schools to stop and detect child sexual abuse so that hopefully the number of kids we are seeing will soon go down.” Ninety-eight percent of the patients seen by the Denton County Children's Advocacy Center in 2008 were diagnosed as sexual abuse victims. Jenna's law was written with the help of Jenna Quinn, a strong advocate and community leader for preventing child sexual abuse. Jenna says, "This law is important for all the voiceless children of Texas. Educating parents, teachers, and students of the signs and symptoms of child abuse will help victims find the courage and support they need to initiate their outcries. Setting children free from a wall of silence will enable them to find healing. There is no more worthy goal than this."

Initially elected on November 7, 2006, Representative Parker represents both rural and urban parts of Denton County which encompass the cities of Flower Mound, Highland Village, Pilot Point, Argyle, Aubrey, Krugerville, Sanger, Cross Roads, Krum, Ponder, Justin, Northlake, Copper Canyon, Double Oak, Bartonville, Trophy Club, Roanoke and portions of Lewisville and Southlake. Serving his second term in the Texas Legislature, Representative Parker is focusing his efforts on economic development, job creation, further property tax relief, appraisal reform, strengthening border security and immigration policy, promoting fiscally responsible government spending and protecting family values. Parker is the current Vice Chairman of the Technology, Economic Development and Workforce Committee. He also serves on the Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee and the Select Committee on Oversight of Health and Human Services Eligibility Systems.

- Special to The News Connection