HARRISBURG - Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin said a bill he authored
aimed at curbing teen dating violence passed the state House today.
Conklin's legislation (H.B.
2026) would integrate teen dating violence education into middle and high school
curriculums, and would require school districts to develop an anti-dating violence policy.
"The bill is now in the hands of the Senate," Conklin said. "It is one
step closer to becoming law and I will continue to push until it is law."
Under the bill, school faculty and administrators would be taught about dating violence
and how to recognize its warning signs. Schools would provide age-appropriate education in
the classroom, including warning signs about dating violence.
"Teachers, nurses, administrators and associated staff would be trained not only
on the warning signs, but also how to report incidents and how to teach preventative
measures," Conklin said.
Conklin added that statistics show teen girls are three times more likely to experience
relationship violence than adult women and one in five high school girls reports being
physically or sexually hurt by a dating partner.
"Numbers after numbers show teen dating violence knows no boundaries,"
Conklin said. "We can help change that through education and awareness."
Conklin's legislation would name the bill the "Demi Brae Cuccia Law" after a
Monroeville teen who lost her life as a result of dating violence.
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