PRINTER'S NO. 59
No. 74 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, THOMAS, READSHAW, YOUNGBLOOD, BELARDI,
CORRIGAN, LAUGHLIN, SOLOBAY, TULLI, CAPPELLI, GRUCELA,
YUDICHAK, STABACK, BEBKO-JONES, PRESTON, DeLUCA,
E. Z. TAYLOR, CURRY, SHANER, CIVERA, HARHART, BARD AND
ADOLPH, JANUARY 23, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 23, 2001
AN ACT
1 Providing for the creation of a model domestic abuse awareness
2 program and for related powers and duties of the Department
3 of Education.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Domestic
8 Abuse Awareness Program Act.
9 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
10 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
11 (1) There is an ever-increasing number of persons in
12 this Commonwealth who are affected by domestic abuse. Studies
13 have indicated that, nationally, one in three women is a
14 victim of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse not only causes
15 physical injury but also loss of trust, loss of personal
16 safety in one's own home, loss of self-esteem and loss of
17 control over one's own life. It has been estimated that the
1 total medical cost of domestic abuse in Pennsylvania exceeds
2 the medical cost of elder abuse, child abuse and street
3 violence combined. Schools throughout this Commonwealth can
4 and should take steps to educate students on the effects of
5 domestic violence in an effort to promote safety.
6 (2) It is the intent of the General Assembly to reaffirm
7 the Commonwealth's commitment to preventing domestic abuse by
8 providing an awareness program for students enrolled in our
9 public schools.
10 Section 3. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Department." The Department of Education of the
15 Commonwealth.
16 "Domestic abuse." The occurrence of one or more of the
17 following acts between family or household members, sexual or
18 intimate partners or persons who share biological parenthood:
19 (1) Attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly or
20 recklessly causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury,
21 rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault,
22 statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault,
23 indecent assault or incest, with or without a deadly weapon.
24 (2) Placing another in reasonable fear of imminent
25 serious bodily injury.
26 (3) Inflicting false imprisonment pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.
27 § 2903 (relating to false imprisonment).
28 (4) Physically or sexually abusing minor children,
29 including such terms as defined in 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63
30 (relating to child protective services).
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1 (5) Knowingly engaging in a course of conduct or
2 repeatedly committing acts toward another person, including
3 following the person, without proper authority, under
4 circumstances which place the person in reasonable fear of
5 bodily injury.
6 "Family or household members." Spouses or persons who have
7 been spouses, persons living as spouses or who lived as spouses,
8 parents and children, other persons related by consanguinity or
9 affinity, current or former sexual or intimate partners or
10 persons who share biological parenthood.
11 "Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
12 Section 4. Powers and duties.
13 The secretary shall, in consultation with the Physician
14 General of the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
15 Domestic Violence, the Pennsylvania State Police and any other
16 entities deemed necessary, develop a model domestic abuse
17 awareness program which shall be used by public schools.
18 Section 5. Program goal and availability.
19 The Domestic Abuse Awareness Program shall be directed at:
20 (1) educating students to recognize the signs and
21 effects of domestic abuse; and
22 (2) making students aware of avenues to seek assistance
23 when confronted with domestic violence.
24 The program shall be made available by the department to the
25 public schools in this Commonwealth.
26 Section 6. Regulations.
27 The department shall promulgate regulations to implement this
28 act.
29 Section 7. Effective date.
30 This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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