What's happening
This bill creates a 24-hour toll-free domestic abuse hotline for teens and requires annual high school assemblies on domestic abuse awareness.
Why it matters
Targets a vulnerable population by focusing specifically on teens. , who may face unique barriers to reporting or seeking help for domestic abuse, including fear, lack of knowledge, or concerns about confidentiality.
Mandates proactive outreach. , requiring local social services to actively inform teens about the hotline, rather than relying solely on passive information sharing—potentially increasing utilization and early intervention.
Integrates domestic abuse education into school culture. , ensuring that all high school students annually receive information not only about the risks and signs of abuse but also concrete help resources, which could foster peer support and reduce stigma.
Establishes statewide, standardized guidelines for domestic abuse education. , giving the education commissioner authority to set assembly content, which may help ensure both accuracy and sensitivity in how this critical topic is addressed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teen Abuse Hotline Created
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Teen Domestic Abuse Hotline
In Assembly Committee · Children And Families · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2166
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to creating a domestic abuse hotline for teens; and to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a school assembly on domestic abuse
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 459-h of the social services law, as renumbered by chapter 428 of the laws of 2009, is renumbered section 459-i and a new section 459-h is added to read as follows:
§ 459-h. Domestic abuse hotline for teens. The commissioner of the office of children and family services shall establish a twenty-four hour domestic abuse hotline for teens. The hotline shall be a toll-free number. The local social services district shall take reasonable efforts to inform teens living in their district of the availability of the hotline.
§ 2. Section 3234 of the education law, as renumbered by chapter 975 of the laws of 1966, is renumbered section 3235 and a new section 3234 is added to read as follows:
§ 3234. Mandatory domestic abuse assembly. Every high school within this state shall annually conduct an assembly on the dangers of domestic abuse. The commissioner shall establish the guidelines and content for the assembly. The assembly shall also supply the students with the tollfree number for the domestic abuse hotline for teens.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section two of this act shall apply to any school year commencing at least 30 days after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05631-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to creating a domestic abuse hotline for teens; and to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a school assembly on domestic abuse
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide a domestic abuse toll-free hotline for teens and require all New York State high schools to hold an assembly addressing the dangers of domestic violence and providing information for the toll-free hotline.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends the social services law by adding a new section 459-h, which would establish a toll-free domestic abuse hotline for teens. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3235, which would establish a mandatory domestic abuse assembly.
Section 2 provides that section 3234 of the education law, as renumbered by chapter 975 of the laws of 1966, is renumbered section 3235 and a new section 3234 is added. Mandating that every high school within this state shall annually conduct an assembly on the dangers of domestic abuse. The commissioner shall establish the guidelines and content for the assembly. The assembly shall also supply the students with the toll- free number for the domestic abuse hotline for teens.
Section 3 is the effective date.
Justification
Violence in adolescent relationships is a growing problem in society, and may result in long term trauma for the victims. The years during adolescence are the time when patterns of abuse develop, violence in dating relationships may be a precursor for abuse in adult relation- ships. Teens must be educated about the dangers of domestic violence during these formative years.
A recent report on youth domestic violence indicated that one in five or 30,000 teenage girls in New York City are victims of dating violence. Another study has shown that nearly 25% of female students have been victims of forced sexual intercourse by grade 12. A large scale survey of the college population has also shown that one in four women have been victims of rape or attempted rape. In New York City alone there has been a 70% increase in adolescent calls to the City's Domestic Violence Hotline since 1998.
Abuse is not only a physical assault on the victim, many adolescents are victims of verbal abuse by their partner as well. Studies show that nearly half of all adolescent girls report verbal abuse in their relationship. Proper education must be implemented to address the many forms and dangers of domestic violence. Adolescents thubt; also be educated about the many avenues they may take for assistance in their abusive relationship.
This legislation will provide adolescents with a toll-free hotline, which would be available 24 hours a day to assist victims or potential victims of teen domestic abuse. Additionally, an assembly addressing the dangers of domestic violence would be required in each high school across the state. The assembly would also supply the students with the toll-free number of the domestic abuse hotline for teens.
Prior legislative history
2017-16: A6274(Ortiz) - Referred to Social Services
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section two of this act shall apply to any school year commencing at least thir- ty days after such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.