BILL ANALYSIS
By: Dukes
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Violence in teenage dating relationships threatens the health and safety of youth throughout Texas. Teenage dating violence results in injury and even death, as in the case of Ortralla Mosley, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend at Reagan High School in Austin, Texas. Statistics indicate that one in five teenagers experience abuse while in dating relationships and, once abuse has occurred, victims are more likely to be abused again in current and future relationships. C.S.H.B. 121 seeks to help break the cycle of abuse and provide a deterrent to dating violence in Texas public schools.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill would require each school district to adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252, Education Code. The bill requires that a dating violence policy must include a definition of dating violence including certain elements specified in the bill, and must address safety planning, enforcement of protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected students, and awareness education for students and parents.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute bill deletes certain language defining a dating relationship, and instead incorporates the definition of dating relationship set forth in Section 71.0021, Family Code.