STATE COLLEGE – Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin said Thursday that he is urging Senate action on his bill that would require public schools to provide education on teen-dating violence.  Â
“This bill has been stalled in the state Senate since March,” Conklin said. “It should be brought up for discussion and put to a vote sooner and not later, especially as students are heading back to school and interacting with friends, boyfriends and girlfriends and other students a lot more.”
The legislation is designed to educate middle school and high school students on the dangers of teen-dating violence. Currently it is awaiting action by the Senate Education Committee.
Under Conklin’s bill (H.B. 2026), 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 dating violence warning signs and the characteristics of healthy relationships
“This bill would be named the “Demi Brae Cuccia Law” in remembrance of the Monroeville teen who lost her life as a result of dating violence,” Conklin said. “Her family has been working tirelessly to see this bill become law and I will continue my push with them.”Â
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.
“We cannot wait any longer,” Conklin said. “We need to have the tools in place to arm our teens with the knowledge they need to avoid dating violence.”
