Posted: | January 2, 2019 02:15 PM |
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From: | Representative Tina M. Davis |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Harassment Education |
While juggling professional and academics goals, many teenagers also struggle with staying safe in school and dating environments. A 2011 American Association of University Women report revealed that sexual harassment is widespread in middle and high schools, with 40 to 50 percent of students experiencing some form of sexual harassment in a single school year, and with more than 80 percent of students reporting such an experience at least once over the course of their school career. In addition, teen girls face relationship violence three times more than adult women. Act 104 of 2010 took the first step in addressing this issue by providing for optional teen dating violence education in high school classrooms throughout this Commonwealth. I plan to expand this law by introducing legislation that would mandate dating violence and sexual harassment education and peer support training in middle and high schools. This bill will also require school districts to develop a specific dating violence and sexual harassment policy, and provide training for district faculty and administration on the subject. Please join me in protecting our youth from dating violence and sexual harassment by co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB495