Gov. Pat Quinn has signed “Erin’s Law,” named after a Schaumburg woman who endured years of sexual abuse as a child.

The new law creates a task force that will look into how sex abuse prevention could be taught in elementary schools.

Erin Merryn, 25, worked on the proposal with downstate Sen. Tim Bivins. Merryn has written books and appeared on television shows to discuss her abuse and how more education in schools could have helped her.

She will participate in the task force, and has said she hopes it will lead to future legislation to create education programs.

kthayer@tribune.com