HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1551        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 453

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the teaching of teen dating violence in public schools..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 2B the following section:-

Section 2C. All school districts in the Commonwealth shall implement a specific policy and discipline code to address teen dating violence in public schools.

Such policies shall clearly state that dating violence will not be tolerated and shall include guidelines for addressing alleged incidents of dating violence. Such policies may include a teen dating violence prevention task force comprised of staff, students and parents to provide awareness training and education for the school community. Such policies would include defining the issue of teen dating violence, recognizing warning signs, identifying issues of confidentiality, safety and appropriate legal school-based interventions.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, shall be amended by inserting in line 19 after the words, “emotional development”, the following words:-

“safe and healthy relationships with a focus on preventing sexual and domestic violence”.