S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6566

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 27, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  LANZA  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to teen  dating  violence
  education programs

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Subdivision 7 of  section  11  of  the  education  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  102  of  the  laws  of 2012, is amended to read as
follows:
  7. "Harassment" and "bullying" shall mean the creation  of  a  hostile
environment  by  conduct or by threats, intimidation, COERCION or abuse,
including cyberbullying OR TEEN DATING VIOLENCE, that (a) has  or  would
have  the  effect  of  unreasonably and substantially interfering with a
student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental,
emotional or physical well-being; or  (b)  reasonably  causes  or  would
reasonably  be  expected to cause a student to fear for his or her phys-
ical safety; or (c) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to
cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or (d) occurs  off
school  property  and  creates  or  would  foreseeably  create a risk of
substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is  fore-
seeable  that  the  conduct,  threats, intimidation or abuse might reach
school property. Acts of harassment and bullying shall include, but  not
be  limited to, those acts based on a person's actual or perceived race,
color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious  prac-
tice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex. For the purposes of
this  definition the term "threats, intimidation or abuse" shall include
verbal and non-verbal actions.
  S 2. Section 11 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision 9 to read as follows:
  9. "TEEN DATING  VIOLENCE"  SHALL  MEAN  EMOTIONAL  ABUSE,  ELECTRONIC
ABUSE,  SEXUAL  ABUSE  WHICH  INCLUDES  SEXUAL COERCION, AND/OR PHYSICAL
ABUSE BY A PERSON TO HARM, THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, CONTROL, AND/OR ATTEMPT
TO CONTROL ANOTHER PERSON IN A RELATIONSHIP OF A  ROMANTIC  OR  INTIMATE
NATURE,  REGARDLESS  OF  WHETHER  THAT RELATIONSHIP IS CONTINUING OR HAD

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD11422-02-5

S. 6566                             2

CONCLUDED  OR  THE  NUMBER  OF  INTERACTIONS  BETWEEN  THE   INDIVIDUALS
INVOLVED.
  S 3. Section 13 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision 6 to read as follows:
  6.  GUIDELINES RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES AND RESPONSES
TO TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AS PROVIDED IN SECTION THIRTEEN-A OF THIS  ARTI-
CLE.
  S 4. The education law is amended by adding a new section 13-a to read
as follows:
  S  13-A.  POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS.  1. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE TRUSTEES OR  SOLE
TRUSTEE  OF  EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL CREATE POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND
GUIDELINES TO IMPLEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN  KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH  TWELFTH  GRADE  TO PREVENT, DETER AND ADDRESS INCIDENTS OF TEEN
DATING VIOLENCE THAT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
  A. INCORPORATING AGE-APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ABOUT  HEALTHY  RELATION-
SHIPS  AND  TEEN  DATING  VIOLENCE INTO THE SCHOOL'S EXISTING CURRICULUM
THAT INCLUDES: (I) A DEFINITION OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE;  (II)  RECOGNI-
TION  OF WARNING SIGNS; (III) CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP;
(IV) LINKS BETWEEN BULLYING AND TEEN DATING  VIOLENCE;  (V)  RESPONSIBLE
USE OF TECHNOLOGY; AND (VI) RESPONSIBLE BYSTANDER SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS;
  B.  PROVIDING  TRAINING  PROGRAMS  FOR  TEACHERS,  ADMINISTRATORS  AND
PERSONNEL;
  C. DESIGNATING AT LEAST ONE PERSON AS  A  PREVENTION  LIAISON  WHO  IS
RESPONSIBLE  FOR  COORDINATING  ALL  TEEN  DATING  VIOLENCE  AND HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIP INITIATIVES; AND
  D. DEVELOPING A RESPONSE PROGRAM TO INCIDENTS OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE,
WHICH INCLUDES MONITORING AND REPORTING COMPONENTS.
  2. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE TRUSTEES OR SOLE  TRUSTEE  OF  EVERY
SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL CREATE SUCH POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE NEW YORK STATE COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, AND INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION SUCH MODEL
PROVISIONS  AS  ARE  RECOMMENDED BY THE NEW YORK STATE COALITION AGAINST
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
  S 5. Paragraph j of subdivision 2 of section 2801-a of  the  education
law,  as added by chapter 181 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as
follows:
  j. strategies for improving communication among students  and  between
students  and staff and reporting of potentially violent incidents, such
as the establishment of youth-run  programs,  peer  mediation,  conflict
resolution,  creating  a  forum  or  designating  a  mentor for students
concerned with bullying or violence, INCLUDING TEEN DATING VIOLENCE, and
establishing anonymous reporting mechanisms for school violence; and
  S 6. Section 801-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 102  of
the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
  S 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
The  regents  shall  ensure  that  the  course  of instruction in grades
kindergarten through twelve includes a component on  civility,  citizen-
ship  and character education. Such component shall instruct students on
the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal  responsibility,  respect
for  others,  with  an  emphasis  on PREVENTING AND discouraging acts of
harassment, bullying, INCLUDING TEEN  DATING  VIOLENCE,  discrimination,
observance  of  laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which
will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions  to,
the community. Such component shall include instruction of safe, respon-
sible  use  of  the  internet and electronic communications. The regents

S. 6566                             3

shall determine how to incorporate such component in existing  curricula
and  the  commissioner  shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry
out such determination of the regents. For the purposes of this section,
"tolerance,"  "respect for others" and "dignity" shall include awareness
and sensitivity to harassment, bullying, INCLUDING TEEN DATING VIOLENCE,
discrimination and civility in the  relations  of  people  of  different
races,  weights,  national  origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious
practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual  orientations,  genders,
and sexes.
  S 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it  shall have become a law; provided that the commissioner of education
is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations  and  take
any other measures necessary to implement this act on its effective date
on or before such date.