California Assembly Bill AB1373 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1373AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 30, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fong FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act to add Article  3.7   1.5  (commencing with Section  32230)   32205)  to Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, relating to pupils. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1373, as amended, Fong. Pupils:  healthy relationships promotion and  teen dating violence prevention. Existing law requires a school district that provides instruction to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to provide an adopted course of study to those pupils, as specified. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards in certain curriculum areas. This bill would  enact the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Education Act of 2011, which would  authorize school districts to provide  education programs that promote  healthy relationships and  prevent  teen dating violence  prevention education programs  to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, through curricular, extracurricular, and school climate improvement activities. The bill would authorize school districts to work in partnership with parents  and   ,  caregivers  ,  and youth  and   , domestic violence, sexual assault, and other appropriate  community-based organizations to provide these education programs. The bill would require school districts that choose to provide  healthy relationship and   education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent  teen dating violence  prevention education programs  to use research-based materials that are appropriate for  students   pupils  of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and for  students   pupils  with disabilities.  The bill would encourage school districts that choose to provide healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention education programs to provide pupils with specified opportunities.   The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide information about model education programs that are designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence on the department's Internet Web site, as specified.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no  yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Article 3.7 (commencing with Section 32230) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read: Article 3.7. Teen Dating Violence Prevention Education Act of 2011 32230. (a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Education Act of 2011.   SECTION 1.   Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 32205) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the   Education Code   , to read:  Article  1.5   Healthy Relationships Promotion and Teen Dating Violence Prevention   32205.   (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Superintendent encourage the provision of education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. It is further the intent of the Legislature that public schools serving pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, have access to model education programs and materials designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence among pupils.  (b) A school district may provide  healthy relationships and   education programs to promote healthy relationships and prevent  teen dating violence  prevention education programs  to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, through curricular, extracurricular, and school climate-improvement activities. School districts may work in partnership with parents, caregivers, and youth  and   , domestic violence, sexual assault, or other appropriate  community-based organizations to provide these education programs.  32231. School districts are encouraged to do all of the following: (a) Integrate the promotion of healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention into curricular activities, including, but not limited to, the instruction of pupils in health education, English, social studies, history, and civics, through the use of evidence-based or evidence-informed curriculum. (b) Integrate the promotion of healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention into existing extracurricular activities, which include, but are not limited to, athletics, arts, service-learning opportunities, and after school programs, and school climate improvement activities, which include, but are not limited to, positive behavior intervention and supports, social emotional learning, and student codes of conduct. (c) Support youth leadership and youth-led efforts in extracurricular and school improvement activities designed to promote healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention. (d) Consult and collaborate with local domestic violence and sexual assault organizations and other appropriate community-based organizations and service providers to implement efforts to promote healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention.   32232.   32206.  School districts that choose to provide  education programs that promote  healthy relationships and  prevent teen dating violence  prevention education programs  pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section  32230   32205  shall use research-based materials that are appropriate for  students   pupils  of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and for  students   pupils  with disabilities.  32233. School districts that choose to provide healthy relationship and teen dating violence prevention education programs pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 32230 are encouraged to do both of the following: (a) Provide pupils with opportunities to learn about all of the following: (1) Factors that are associated with teen dating violence perpetration and victimization. (2) Characteristics of healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships. (3) Types and forms of abuse of power and control in abusive relationships. (4) Early warning signs of unhealthy and abusive relationships. (5) Information about legal rights and available school and community resources for legal, medical, mental health, and other services. (b) Provide pupils with opportunities to develop healthy relationship skills, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (1) Communication skills that involve learning to listen and express oneself effectively and to discuss and resolve conflicts with respect and nonviolence. (2) Recognizing and setting boundaries that involve being able to identify an individual's comfort level with relationship issues and to navigate and negotiate those boundaries with a partner. (3) Critical thinking to analyze the motivations for one's actions and the actions of others. (4) Assertiveness to address and withstand peer pressure and pressure within a dating relationship. (5) Responsible use of technology and social networking. (6) Skills to enter and exit relationships safely and respectfully. (7) Empathy and capacity to respond to and intervene and help friends in unhealthy situations and relationships.   32234. School districts that choose to work in partnership with parents and caregivers to provide healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention education programs pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 32230 are encouraged to address both of the following: (a) The importance of a parent or caregiver's influence on pupil behavior and the value of positive role models. (b) Suggestions for how to talk to pupils about healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships.   32207. (a) The Superintendent shall provide information, which may be used by school districts, about model education programs that are designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence among pupils on the department's Internet Web site. (b) The information provided on the Internet Web site shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) The legal obligations of schools to respond to and prevent teen dating violence under existing federal and state law. (2) Model school teen dating violence prevention policies. (3) Model school healthy relationships promotion and teen dating violence prevention curriculum and education programs. (c) In compiling the information to post on the department's Internet Web site, the Superintendent shall seek input from other public agencies and private nonprofit organizations with experience providing education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence. The Superintendent may include appropriate materials developed by those agencies or organizations in the information provided on the department's Internet Web site.