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Issues & Research » Health » Teen Dating Violence
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Teen Dating Violence
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 11 adolescents say they have been the victim of physical dating violence; a separate survey indicated that 1 in 4 teens self-report physical, verbal, emotional or sexual abuse every year. African American and Hispanic students report higher rates of dating violence than white students. Healthy or unhealthy relationship habits develop early. Approximately 72 percent of 8th and 9th graders report "dating." By the time these students get to high school, more than half of them say they see dating violence among their peers. Destructive relationships during the teen years can lead to life-long unhealthy relationship practices, may disrupt normal development, and can contribute to other unhealthy behaviors in teens that, if left unchecked, can lead to problems over a lifetime. The CDC's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey indicates that adolescents who report being physically hurt in a dating relationship were also more likely to report that they engage in risky sexual behavior, binge drink, use drugs, attempt suicide, and participate in physical fights.
Prevention initiatives include early education about healthy dating practices. Choose Respect, a CDC initiative aimed at adolescents, raises awareness about teen dating violence and promotes healthy relationship practices by challenging harmful beliefs about dating violence.
Policymakers can play a role in preventing teen dating violence. At least seven states have laws that urge or require school boards to develop curriculum on teen dating violence. States have also adopted teen dating violence awareness weeks or months, in an effort to draw the public's attention to a national campaign that promotes prevention, safe dating practices and offers information and resources. In 2009, at least five states (Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Utah) declared a prevention week or month in February.
2010 Introduced Legislation | State Laws | Dating Violence Postcard | 2009 Archived Legislation
Updated July 19, 2010
Introduced Legislation-2010 Bills
| State |
Bill Description |
|
California
|
AB 1852 Would revise the social study and the assessment done prior to appointing a guardian to include information regarding whether the County Welfare Department has attempted to locate relative and nonrelative extended family members of the child and establish permanent familial connections between the child and those persons. The new training program would include information regarding the dynamics and effects of domestic violence upon families and children, including indicators and dynamics of teen dating violence.
SB 1300 Would authorize a school district to provide teen dating violence prevention education consisting of age-appropriate instruction, as developed by the state Board of Education as part of the sexual health and health education program it provides to pupils in grades 7 to 12.
|
|
Connecticut
|
HB 5315 Would include teen dating violence and domestic violence education as part of the in-service training program for certified teachers, administrators and pupil personnel.Passed, signed into law by the Governor, Public Act No. 10-91, 5/26/2010.
HB 5246 Requires the Comissioner of Public Health to develop one public service announcement issued by the Department of Public Health through a televised broadcast for the purpose of preventing teen dating and family violence. Enacted 6/07/2010, Public Act No. 10-137.
|
| Florida |
SB 642 and HB 467 Would require a comprehensive health education taught in the public schools to include a component on teen dating violence and abuse for students in grades 7 through 12. Would require district school boards to adopt and implement a dating violence and abuse policy and provides policy requirements. Also would require the Department of Education to develop a model policy that includes school personnel training.Senate version: Failed, session adjourned. House version: Passed, signed into law by the governor, Chapter No. 217, 6/07/2010.
|
|
Georgia
|
HB 1018 Relates to other educational programs relative to the Quality Basic Education Act. Would provide that the State Board of Education shall incorporate into rape prevention and personal safety education programs a program for preventing teen dating violence, the Love Is Not Abuse Curriculum (Claiborne Institute curriculum) and would repeal conflicting laws.Failed, session adjourned.
|
|
Maryland
|
HB 911 and SB 984 Would require the State Board of Education to adopt in the public schools a specified program on dating violence on or before a specified date. Would alter the definition of victim of domestic violence. Would require the Governor to proclaim the first week in February each year Tween/Teen Dating Violence Education and Awareness Week. House version: Failed. Senate still pending.
|
|
Massachusetts
|
SB 2313 Would provide instruction for teaching about teen dating violence in schools.
HB 455 Would protect students against bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence.
|
|
New York
|
AB 10206 and SB 7131 Would require dating violence education and dating violence policies in school districts, board of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards. Defines dating violence as a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or actually uses, physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating partner and includes threats made by cell phone, text message, internet, and other electronic means.
|
|
Pennslyvania
|
HB 2026 Would amend the Public School Code of 1949. Relates to terms and courses of study, would provide for dating violence education.
|
State Laws on Teen Dating Violence
| State |
Description of Law |
| Florida |
Fla. Stat. § 784.046 A victim of dating violence that has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of another act of dating violence, or any person who has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of an act of dating violence, or the parent or legal guardian of any minor child who is living at home and who seeks an injunction for protection against dating violence on behalf of that minor child, has standing in the circuit court to file a restraining order against the accused dating violence abuser. |
| Georgia |
Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-314 (2003 SB346) The State Board of Education is required to develop a rape prevention and personal safety education program and a program for preventing teen dating violence for grades 8 through 12. Local boards may implement such programs at any time and for any grade level local boards find appropriate, and the state board shall encourage the implementation of such programs. In addition, the state board shall make information regarding such programs available to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. |
| Illinois |
Public Act. No 383 (2009 HB 973) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program may include instruction on teen dating violence for specified grade levels.
Public Act No. 95-876 (2007 SB2023 and HB1330) Requires the State Board of Education to convene an Ensuring Success in School Task Force to develop policies and procedures for addressing the educational and related needs of youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence to ensure their ability to stay in school, and successfully complete their education. Adds one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives to the Task Force. The Task Force will issue a final report to the General Assembly in Spring of 2009.
Public Act No. 383 (2009 HB 973) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program may include instruction on teen dating violence for specified grade levels.
|
| Nebraska |
Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 43 Sec. 79-2,142 (2009 LB 63) (originally LB 64, but added to LB 63 during session) Section 43-47 adopts the Lindsay Burke Act passed in Rhode Island in 2007. Would require the state department of education to develop a model policy for schools to address teen dating violence through their curriculum. Enacted, signed into law by the Governor, 5/27/2009.
|
| New Jersey |
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.23 (2003 SB 487 and AB 3081) Creates the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Education Fund and allows the board of education to teach the psychology and dynamics of teen dating violence when appropriate in elementary, middle and high school. |
| Ohio |
Session Law Chapter No. 15 (2007 HB119) Requires the Franklin County Child and Family Health Services to support the Compdrug Teen Dating Violence Prevention Project. Comp Drug Inc. is an organization that offers services in prevention, intervention and treatment programs for persons with substance abuse problems and the largest provider of institutional and community based corrections programs.
2009 HB 19 Enacts the Tina Croucher Act. Requires school districts to adopt a dating violence prevention policy and to include dating violence prevention education within the health education curriculum. Signed into law by the Governor on December 28, 2009.
|
| Rhode Island |
Gen.Laws 1956, § 16-85-2 (2007 SB 875 and HB6166) Establishes the Lindsay Anne Burke Act which requires the Department of Education to develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing policies for dating violence reporting and response. The model policy shall be implemented on or before April 1, 2008. Each school district's policy should include a policy for responding to incidents of dating violence and to provide dating violence education to students, parents, staff, faculty and administrators, in order to prevent dating violence and to address incidents involving dating violence. Click here to view Rhode Island Department of Education's policy on teen dating violence. |
| Tennessee |
T. C. A. § 49-1-220 (2006 SB 595) This act urges the Department of Education to develop a sexual violence/teen dating violence awareness curriculum for presentation at least once in grades 7 and 8 and at least once and preferably twice in grades 9 through 12. The curriculum is intended to increase awareness of teen dating violence and sexual violence, including rape prevention strategies, resources available, etc. |
| Texas |
Secretary of State Chapter No. 131 (2007 HB121) Schools are required to develop and implement a dating violence policy. The school policy should provide training for teachers and administrators and awareness education for students and parents. It should also enforce protective orders or school based alternative including counseling for affected students. The policy is also required to addressing safety planning. |
| Virginia |
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-207.1 (2007 HB 1916) Develops curriculum guidelines for teaching teen dating violence and all family life education in schools. The guidelines promote parental involvement, foster positive self concepts and provide mechanisms for coping with peer pressure and the stresses of modern living according to the students' developmental stages and abilities. The Board shall also establish requirements for appropriate training for teachers of family life education, which shall include training in instructional elements to support the various curriculum components. |
| Washington |
RCWA 28A.300.185 (2005 HB 1252) Requires the state school superintendent to develop a model curriculum. The model curriculum shall include, but is not limited to, instruction on developing conflict management skills, communication skills, domestic violence and dating violence, financial responsibility, and parenting responsibility. |
Percentage of High School Students Who Experienced Dating Violence*
Teen Dating Violence
Dating violence is the physical, sexual or psychological/emotional violence that occurs within a dating relationship. Destructive relationships during the teen years can lead to lifelong unhealthy relationship practices, may disrupt normal development, and can contribute to other unhealthy behaviors in teens that can lead to chronic mental and physical health conditions in adulthood. Teens who were physically hurt by a dating partner were more likely to say they engage in risky sexual behavior, binge drink, use drugs, attempt suicide, and participate in physical fights.
- One in 10 adolescents reports being a victim of physical dating violence.
- One in 4 adolescents report verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse each year.
- About 72 percent of eighth and ninth graders report "dating."
- Teen dating abuse most often takes place in the home of one of the partners.
Adolescence is a "window of opportunity" for prevention, and policymakers can play a role in preventing teen dating violence. Laws in least seven states urge or require school boards to develop curriculum on teen dating violence and at least 14 states considered legislation in 2009. States also have adopted teen dating violence awareness weeks or months to bring attention to prevention and safe dating practices.
Options for Policymakers
- Support evidence-based programs in schools and communities, such as Safe Dates and Fourth R, that are proven to prevent and intervene in violent teen dating relationships. Programs are more likely to lower the incidence of teen dating violence when science informs their curricula.
- Work with health officials to gather surveillance data in states that do not collect information on teen dating violence.
- Analyze and evaluate existing state and local policies and practices to identify effective strategies to prevent teen dating violence.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2009.
Introduced Legislation-2009 Bills
Bills introduced in the previous legislative session are listed below to provide additional information and show trends. Sixteen states introduced teen dating violence legislation during the 2009 legislative session. Bill summaries, numbers, and status can be found in the following table.
| State |
Bill Description |
| Connecticut |
HB 5706 and HB 5778 Requires the State Department of Education to obtain the Safe Dates teen dating violence prevention curriculum and use it to train teachers in middle and high schools. Failed 3/23/2009.
HB 6494 Requires all schools to include emotional and mental health in their curriculum, including topics such as teen dating violence, consumer health, physical, mental and emotional health, youth suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention and general safety. Failed 3/23/2009.
SB 474 Amends the general statute to integrate teen dating violence education into the health curriculum in schools. Failed 3/23/2009.
|
| Georgia |
SB 217 Establishes the "Brittany Sharnay Wells Act." Strengthens current law, Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act." Provides for a curriculum on dating violence, requires the adoption of a policy against dating violence. Failed, session adjourned. |
| Hawaii |
HB 1672 Tasks the department of education to enact a dating violence policy and age-appropriate dating violence education to middle and high school students and dating violence prevention training to appropriate staff. Failed, session adjourned. |
| Illinois |
HB 973 Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program may include instruction on teen dating violence for specified grade levels. Signed into law by the Governor 8/13/2009, Public Act No. 383. |
| Indiana |
SB 396 Requires the Department of Education to develop a model policy on teen dating violence by December 1, 2010. The school curriculum on teen dating violence should include: basic principles of dating violence; warning signs of dating violence; and the school's dating violence policy. Failed-session adjourned. |
| Maryland |
HB 845 Requires the State Board of Education to develop and implement in the public schools a program to educate students about dating violence; requires the program to include education on services provided to victims of dating violence; alters the definition of victim of domestic violence; requires the Governor annually to proclaim the second week in October Statewide Tween/Teen Dating Violence education and Awareness.Failed-session adjourned. |
| Massachusetts |
HB 453 States that all school districts in the Commonwealth shall implement a specific policy and discipline code to address teen dating violence in public schools. In Joint Committee on Education: Heard. Eligible for Executive Session, 11/17/2009.
HB 455 Amends current legislation to include teen dating violence prevention in public school curriculums. In Joint Committee on Education: Heard. Eligible for Executive Session, 11/17/2009.
|
| Montana |
HB 596 Establishes the Healthy Teen Act. Among many other teen health issues, teach skills in making responsible decisions about sexuality, including how to refrain from making and how to avoid receiving unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances. This includes information about dating violence, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Failed, died in committee 4/28/2009. |
| Nebraska |
LB 63 (originally LB 64, but added to LB 63 during session) Section 43-47 adopts the Lindsay Burke Act passed in Rhode Island in 2007. Would require the state department of education to develop a model policy for schools to address teen dating violence through their curriculum. Enacted, signed into law by the Governor, 5/27/2009. |
| New Jersey |
AB 3807 Strengthens current law; requires each school district to adopt a dating violence policy to prevent and address incidents involving dating violence. To Assembly Committee on Education, 3/5/2009.
|
| New Mexico |
HB 615 Requires public schools to adopt dating violence policies and to incorporate dating violence information into health education curricula in grades seven through twelve. Failed-session adjourned. |
| New York |
AB 819 Requires dating violence education and dating violence policies in school district, board of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards. To Assembly Committee on Education, 1/7/2009.
SB 2537 Requires dating violence education and dating violence policies in school districts, board of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards; "dating violence" means a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or actually uses, physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating partner; requires the department, in conjunction with, to assist schools in developing a policy for dating violence incidents. To Senate Committee on Education, 2/23/2009.
|
| Ohio |
HB 19 Requires school districts to adopt a dating violence policy and to include dating violence education within the health education curriculum. Signed into Law by the Governor, 12/23/2009. |
| Oklahoma |
SB 1098 As a result of state legislative findings, it requires the State Department of Education to develop a model dating violence policy and requires each district board of education to establish dating violence policies. Also requires training and creates guidelines for the training. Failed, session adjourned.
|
| Pennsylvania |
HB 2026 Amends the Public School Code of 1949. Relates to terms and courses of study. Provides for dating violence education. To House Committee on Appropriations, 12/16/2009. |
| South Carolina |
HB 3202 and SB 266 Strengthens current law on school policies by requiring department of education to develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing their own policies. The policies created are to be published in school district handbooks. The guidelines include annual dating violence training for administrators, teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, and social workers. Also requires school districts to inform parents of the policy and allows parents or legal guardians to examine all education program materials developed. The department provides final approval on all policies and establishes which policy should be taught at certain grade levels. Pending-Carryover.
HB 3543 Requires the state department of education to develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing their own policies for reporting and responding to dating violence, provides what must be included in the policies, to provide reporting and publication requirements, and to require school districts to inform parents and guardians of the policy and to provide parents with a copy of the policy upon request. Pending-Carryover.
|
|
Teen Dating Violence
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 11 adolescents say they have been the victim of physical dating violence; a separate survey indicated that 1 in 4 teens self-report physical, verbal, emotional or sexual abuse every year. African American and Hispanic students report higher rates of dating violence than white students. Healthy or unhealthy relationship habits develop early. Approximately 72 percent of 8th and 9th graders report "dating." By the time these students get to high school, more than half of them say they see dating violence among their peers. Destructive relationships during the teen years can lead to life-long unhealthy relationship practices, may disrupt normal development, and can contribute to other unhealthy behaviors in teens that, if left unchecked, can lead to problems over a lifetime. The CDC's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey indicates that adolescents who report being physically hurt in a dating relationship were also more likely to report that they engage in risky sexual behavior, binge drink, use drugs, attempt suicide, and participate in physical fights.
Prevention initiatives include early education about healthy dating practices. Choose Respect, a CDC initiative aimed at adolescents, raises awareness about teen dating violence and promotes healthy relationship practices by challenging harmful beliefs about dating violence.
Policymakers can play a role in preventing teen dating violence. At least seven states have laws that urge or require school boards to develop curriculum on teen dating violence. States have also adopted teen dating violence awareness weeks or months, in an effort to draw the public's attention to a national campaign that promotes prevention, safe dating practices and offers information and resources. In 2009, at least five states (Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Utah) declared a prevention week or month in February.
2010 Introduced Legislation | State Laws | Dating Violence Postcard | 2009 Archived Legislation
Updated July 19, 2010
Introduced Legislation-2010 Bills
| State |
Bill Description |
|
California
|
AB 1852 Would revise the social study and the assessment done prior to appointing a guardian to include information regarding whether the County Welfare Department has attempted to locate relative and nonrelative extended family members of the child and establish permanent familial connections between the child and those persons. The new training program would include information regarding the dynamics and effects of domestic violence upon families and children, including indicators and dynamics of teen dating violence.
SB 1300 Would authorize a school district to provide teen dating violence prevention education consisting of age-appropriate instruction, as developed by the state Board of Education as part of the sexual health and health education program it provides to pupils in grades 7 to 12.
|
|
Connecticut
|
HB 5315 Would include teen dating violence and domestic violence education as part of the in-service training program for certified teachers, administrators and pupil personnel.Passed, signed into law by the Governor, Public Act No. 10-91, 5/26/2010.
HB 5246 Requires the Comissioner of Public Health to develop one public service announcement issued by the Department of Public Health through a televised broadcast for the purpose of preventing teen dating and family violence. Enacted 6/07/2010, Public Act No. 10-137.
|
| Florida |
SB 642 and HB 467 Would require a comprehensive health education taught in the public schools to include a component on teen dating violence and abuse for students in grades 7 through 12. Would require district school boards to adopt and implement a dating violence and abuse policy and provides policy requirements. Also would require the Department of Education to develop a model policy that includes school personnel training.Senate version: Failed, session adjourned. House version: Passed, signed into law by the governor, Chapter No. 217, 6/07/2010.
|
|
Georgia
|
HB 1018 Relates to other educational programs relative to the Quality Basic Education Act. Would provide that the State Board of Education shall incorporate into rape prevention and personal safety education programs a program for preventing teen dating violence, the Love Is Not Abuse Curriculum (Claiborne Institute curriculum) and would repeal conflicting laws.Failed, session adjourned.
|
|
Maryland
|
HB 911 and SB 984 Would require the State Board of Education to adopt in the public schools a specified program on dating violence on or before a specified date. Would alter the definition of victim of domestic violence. Would require the Governor to proclaim the first week in February each year Tween/Teen Dating Violence Education and Awareness Week. House version: Failed. Senate still pending.
|
|
Massachusetts
|
SB 2313 Would provide instruction for teaching about teen dating violence in schools.
HB 455 Would protect students against bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence.
|
|
New York
|
AB 10206 and SB 7131 Would require dating violence education and dating violence policies in school districts, board of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards. Defines dating violence as a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or actually uses, physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating partner and includes threats made by cell phone, text message, internet, and other electronic means.
|
|
Pennslyvania
|
HB 2026 Would amend the Public School Code of 1949. Relates to terms and courses of study, would provide for dating violence education.
|
State Laws on Teen Dating Violence
| State |
Description of Law |
| Florida |
Fla. Stat. § 784.046 A victim of dating violence that has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of another act of dating violence, or any person who has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of an act of dating violence, or the parent or legal guardian of any minor child who is living at home and who seeks an injunction for protection against dating violence on behalf of that minor child, has standing in the circuit court to file a restraining order against the accused dating violence abuser. |
| Georgia |
Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-314 (2003 SB346) The State Board of Education is required to develop a rape prevention and personal safety education program and a program for preventing teen dating violence for grades 8 through 12. Local boards may implement such programs at any time and for any grade level local boards find appropriate, and the state board shall encourage the implementation of such programs. In addition, the state board shall make information regarding such programs available to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. |
| Illinois |
Public Act. No 383 (2009 HB 973) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program may include instruction on teen dating violence for specified grade levels.
Public Act No. 95-876 (2007 SB2023 and HB1330) Requires the State Board of Education to convene an Ensuring Success in School Task Force to develop policies and procedures for addressing the educational and related needs of youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence to ensure their ability to stay in school, and successfully complete their education. Adds one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives to the Task Force. The Task Force will issue a final report to the General Assembly in Spring of 2009.
Public Act No. 383 (2009 HB 973) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program may include instruction on teen dating violence for specified grade levels.
|
| Nebraska |
Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 43 Sec. 79-2,142 (2009 LB 63) (originally LB 64, but added to LB 63 during session) Section 43-47 adopts the Lindsay Burke Act passed in Rhode Island in 2007. Would require the state department of education to develop a model policy for schools to address teen dating violence through their curriculum. Enacted, signed into law by the Governor, 5/27/2009.
|
| New Jersey |
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.23 (2003 SB 487 and AB 3081) Creates the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Education Fund and allows the board of education to teach the psychology and dynamics of teen dating violence when appropriate in elementary, middle and high school. |
| Ohio |
Session Law Chapter No. 15 (2007 HB119) Requires the Franklin County Child and Family Health Services to support the Compdrug Teen Dating Violence Prevention Project. Comp Drug Inc. is an organization that offers services in prevention, intervention and treatment programs for persons with substance abuse problems and the largest provider of institutional and community based corrections programs.
2009 HB 19 Enacts the Tina Croucher Act. Requires school districts to adopt a dating violence prevention policy and to include dating violence prevention education within the health education curriculum. Signed into law by the Governor on December 28, 2009.
|
| Rhode Island |
Gen.Laws 1956, § 16-85-2 (2007 SB 875 and HB6166) Establishes the Lindsay Anne Burke Act which requires the Department of Education to develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing policies for dating violence reporting and response. The model policy shall be implemented on or before April 1, 2008. Each school district's policy should include a policy for responding to incidents of dating violence and to provide dating violence education to students, parents, staff, faculty and administrators, in order to prevent dating violence and to address incidents involving dating violence. Click here to view Rhode Island Department of Education's policy on teen dating violence. |
| Tennessee |
T. C. A. § 49-1-220 (2006 SB 595) This act urges the Department of Education to develop a sexual violence/teen dating violence awareness curriculum for presentation at least once in grades 7 and 8 and at least once and preferably twice in grades 9 through 12. The curriculum is intended to increase awareness of teen dating violence and sexual violence, including rape prevention strategies, resources available, etc. |
| Texas |
Secretary of State Chapter No. 131 (2007 HB121) Schools are required to develop and implement a dating violence policy. The school policy should provide training for teachers and administrators and awareness education for students and parents. It should also enforce protective orders or school based alternative including counseling for affected students. The policy is also required to addressing safety planning. |
| Virginia |
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-207.1 (2007 HB 1916) Develops curriculum guidelines for teaching teen dating violence and all family life education in schools. The guidelines promote parental involvement, foster positive self concepts and provide mechanisms for coping with peer pressure and the stresses of modern living according to the students' developmental stages and abilities. The Board shall also establish requirements for appropriate training for teachers of family life education, which shall include training in instructional elements to support the various curriculum components. |
| Washington |
RCWA 28A.300.185 (2005 HB 1252) Requires the state school superintendent to develop a model curriculum. The model curriculum shall include, but is not limited to, instruction on developing conflict management skills, communication skills, domestic violence and dating violence, financial responsibility, and parenting responsibility. |
Percentage of High School Students Who Experienced Dating Violence*
Teen Dating Violence
Dating violence is the physical, sexual or psychological/emotional violence that occurs within a dating relationship. Destructive relationships during the teen years can lead to lifelong unhealthy relationship practices, may disrupt normal development, and can contribute to other unhealthy behaviors in teens that can lead to chronic mental and physical health conditions in adulthood. Teens who were physically hurt by a dating partner were more likely to say they engage in risky sexual behavior, binge drink, use drugs, attempt suicide, and participate in physical fights.
- One in 10 adolescents reports being a victim of physical dating violence.
- One in 4 adolescents report verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse each year.
- About 72 percent of eighth and ninth graders report "dating."
- Teen dating abuse most often takes place in the home of one of the partners.
Adolescence is a "window of opportunity" for prevention, and policymakers can play a role in preventing teen dating violence. Laws in least seven states urge or require school boards to develop curriculum on teen dating violence and at least 14 states considered legislation in 2009. States also have adopted teen dating violence awareness weeks or months to bring attention to prevention and safe dating practices.
Options for Policymakers
- Support evidence-based programs in schools and communities, such as Safe Dates and Fourth R, that are proven to prevent and intervene in violent teen dating relationships. Programs are more likely to lower the incidence of teen dating violence when science informs their curricula.
- Work with health officials to gather surveillance data in states that do not collect information on teen dating violence.
- Analyze and evaluate existing state and local policies and practices to identify effective strategies to prevent teen dating violence.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2009.
Introduced Legislation-2009 Bills
Bills introduced in the previous legislative session are listed below to provide additional information and show trends. Sixteen states introduced teen dating violence legislation during the 2009 legislative session. Bill summaries, numbers, and status can be found in the following table.
| State |
Bill Description |
| Connecticut |
HB 5706 and HB 5778 Requires the State Department of Education to obtain the Safe Dates teen dating violence prevention curriculum and use it to train teachers in middle and high schools. Failed 3/23/2009.
HB 6494 Requires all schools to include emotional and mental health in their curriculum, including topics such as teen dating violence, consumer health, physical, mental and emotional health, youth suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention and general safety. Failed 3/23/2009.
SB 474 Amends the general statute to integrate teen dating violence education into the health curriculum in schools. Failed 3/23/2009.
|
| Georgia |
SB 217 Establishes the "Brittany Sharnay Wells Act." Strengthens current law, Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act." Provides for a curriculum on dating violence, requires the adoption of a policy against dating violence. Failed, session adjourned. |
| Hawaii |
HB 1672 Tasks the department of education to enact a dating violence policy and age-appropriate dating violence education to middle and high school students and dating violence prevention training to appropriate staff. Failed, session adjourned. |
| Illinois |
HB 973 Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program may include instruction on teen dating violence for specified grade levels. Signed into law by the Governor 8/13/2009, Public Act No. 383. |
| Indiana |
SB 396 Requires the Department of Education to develop a model policy on teen dating violence by December 1, 2010. The school curriculum on teen dating violence should include: basic principles of dating violence; warning signs of dating violence; and the school's dating violence policy. Failed-session adjourned. |
| Maryland |
HB 845 Requires the State Board of Education to develop and implement in the public schools a program to educate students about dating violence; requires the program to include education on services provided to victims of dating violence; alters the definition of victim of domestic violence; requires the Governor annually to proclaim the second week in October Statewide Tween/Teen Dating Violence education and Awareness.Failed-session adjourned. |
| Massachusetts |
HB 453 States that all school districts in the Commonwealth shall implement a specific policy and discipline code to address teen dating violence in public schools. In Joint Committee on Education: Heard. Eligible for Executive Session, 11/17/2009.
HB 455 Amends current legislation to include teen dating violence prevention in public school curriculums. In Joint Committee on Education: Heard. Eligible for Executive Session, 11/17/2009.
|
| Montana |
HB 596 Establishes the Healthy Teen Act. Among many other teen health issues, teach skills in making responsible decisions about sexuality, including how to refrain from making and how to avoid receiving unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances. This includes information about dating violence, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Failed, died in committee 4/28/2009. |
| Nebraska |
LB 63 (originally LB 64, but added to LB 63 during session) Section 43-47 adopts the Lindsay Burke Act passed in Rhode Island in 2007. Would require the state department of education to develop a model policy for schools to address teen dating violence through their curriculum. Enacted, signed into law by the Governor, 5/27/2009. |
| New Jersey |
AB 3807 Strengthens current law; requires each school district to adopt a dating violence policy to prevent and address incidents involving dating violence. To Assembly Committee on Education, 3/5/2009.
|
| New Mexico |
HB 615 Requires public schools to adopt dating violence policies and to incorporate dating violence information into health education curricula in grades seven through twelve. Failed-session adjourned. |
| New York |
AB 819 Requires dating violence education and dating violence policies in school district, board of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards. To Assembly Committee on Education, 1/7/2009.
SB 2537 Requires dating violence education and dating violence policies in school districts, board of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards; "dating violence" means a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or actually uses, physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating partner; requires the department, in conjunction with, to assist schools in developing a policy for dating violence incidents. To Senate Committee on Education, 2/23/2009.
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| Ohio |
HB 19 Requires school districts to adopt a dating violence policy and to include dating violence education within the health education curriculum. Signed into Law by the Governor, 12/23/2009. |
| Oklahoma |
SB 1098 As a result of state legislative findings, it requires the State Department of Education to develop a model dating violence policy and requires each district board of education to establish dating violence policies. Also requires training and creates guidelines for the training. Failed, session adjourned.
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| Pennsylvania |
HB 2026 Amends the Public School Code of 1949. Relates to terms and courses of study. Provides for dating violence education. To House Committee on Appropriations, 12/16/2009. |
| South Carolina |
HB 3202 and SB 266 Strengthens current law on school policies by requiring department of education to develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing their own policies. The policies created are to be published in school district handbooks. The guidelines include annual dating violence training for administrators, teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, and social workers. Also requires school districts to inform parents of the policy and allows parents or legal guardians to examine all education program materials developed. The department provides final approval on all policies and establishes which policy should be taught at certain grade levels. Pending-Carryover.
HB 3543 Requires the state department of education to develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing their own policies for reporting and responding to dating violence, provides what must be included in the policies, to provide reporting and publication requirements, and to require school districts to inform parents and guardians of the policy and to provide parents with a copy of the policy upon request. Pending-Carryover.
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