Senate Bill S6169A

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6169                REVISED 9/18/09

 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 education law, in
relation to requiring a school assembly on domestic abuse


 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 :

The social services law is amended 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.

 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
relationships.  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 :
New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS :

Unknown.

 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 thirty days after such effective date.