Assembly Bill A7630

                                BILL NUMBER:A7630A

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

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:  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  prob-
lem  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:
2004 - A.10029 - Referred to Children and Families
2005-2006 - A926 Referred to Children and Families
2007/08 - A3768 ref to children and families

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.