Teen Dating Violence Bills in State Legislature
New focus on teen dating violence has led to the introduction of several related bills in the New York State Legislature.
Senate Bill S07131 would amend the education law to mandate teen dating violence education for grades 7-12 and implement an age-appropriate healthy relationship curriculum for children in the K-6 grades. The law mandates education that encompasses all means of abuse through various outlets such as technology via the internet, cell phone, text messages and all other electronic means where threats and other forms of abuse can be made.
In addition to requiring all schools to develop policies to respond to dating violence incidents, new curricula would be required to address:
- A definition of dating violence
- Information on how to recognize warning signs of dating violence
- Understanding and identifying what role technology plays in abusive relationships
- Characteristics of healthy relationships and age-appropriate behavior
Another bill would establish a New York State teen dating violence hotline.
Day One will be active in supporting legislation to require dating violence education in schools once the state legislature reconvenes in 2011.
