BILL NUMBER: S8323

SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to creating a domestic abuse hotline for teens; and to amend the educa-
tion law, in relation to requiring a school assembly on domestic abuse

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To provide a domestic abuse toll-free hotline for teens and require all
New York State high schools to hold an assembly addressing the dangers
of domestic violence and providing information for the toll-free
hotline.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the social services law by adding a new section 459-h,
which would establish a toll-free domestic abuse hotline for teens. The
education law is amended by adding a new section 3235, which would
establish a mandatory domestic abuse assembly.

              

Section 2 provides that section 3234 of the education law, as renumbered
by chapter 975 of the laws of 1966, is renumbered section 3235 and a new
section 3234 is added. Mandating that every high school within this
state shall annually conduct an assembly on the dangers of domestic
abuse. The commissioner shall establish the guidelines and content for
the assembly. The assembly shall also supply the students with the toll-
free number for the domestic abuse hotline for teens.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Violence in adolescent relationships is a growing problem in society,
and may result in long term trauma for the victims. The years during
adolescence are the time when patterns of abuse develop, violence in
dating relationships may be a precursor for abuse in adult relation-
ships. Teens must be educated about the dangers of domestic violence
during these formative years.

A recent report on youth domestic violence indicated that one in five or
30,000 teenage girls in New York City are victims of dating violence.
Another study has shown that nearly 25% of female students have been
victims of forced sexual intercourse by grade 12. A large scale survey
of the college population has also shown that one in four women have
been victims of rape or attempted rape. In New York City alone there has
been a 70% increase in adolescent calls to the City's Domestic Violence
Hotline since 1998.

Abuse is not only a physical assault on the victim, many adolescents are
victims of verbal abuse by their partner as well. Studies show that
nearly half of all adolescent girls report verbal abuse in their
relationship. Proper education must be implemented to address the many
forms and dangers of domestic violence. Adolescents must also be
educated about the many avenues they may take for assistance in their
abusive relationship.

This legislation will provide adolescents with a toll-free hotline,
which would be available 24 hours a day to assist victims or potential
victims of teen domestic abuse. Additionally, an assembly addressing the
dangers of domestic violence would be required in each high school
across the state. The assembly would also supply the students with the
toll-free number of the domestic abuse hotline for teens.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2003-04: A10029(Ortiz) - Referred to Children and Families
2005-06: A926(Ortiz) - Referred to Children and Families
2007-08: A3768(Ortiz) - Referred to Children and Families
2009-10: A7630A(Ortiz) - Held in Children and Families
2011-12: A284(Ortiz) - Held in Children and Families
2013-14: A1773(Ortiz) - Referred to Children and Families
2015-16: A5866(Ortiz) - Referred to Children and Families

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section
two of this act shall apply to any school year commencing at least thir-
ty days after such effective date.