What's happening
This bill creates a 24-hour domestic abuse hotline for teens and requires annual high school assemblies on domestic abuse awareness.
Why it matters
Expands support access for teens. by mandating a dedicated, toll-free, 24-hour hotline specifically for teens experiencing domestic abuse, addressing a group that may face unique barriers to seeking help.
Requires proactive outreach. as local social services districts must take reasonable steps to notify teens in their area about the hotline, aiming to close awareness gaps and make help more accessible to vulnerable youth.
Mandates annual education on domestic abuse. in high schools, ensuring that all students receive consistent information about the dangers of domestic abuse and are directly provided with the hotline number, potentially increasing early intervention and prevention.
Sets a statewide, standardized approach. by having the state education commissioner establish guidelines and content for the required assemblies, which could improve the quality and consistency of domestic abuse education across all New York high schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teen Domestic Abuse Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1653
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2025
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, ROLISON -- 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.
LBD04690-01-5
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
Sections one and two of the bill amend the relevant provisions of New York law to establish the domestic abuse hotline and the high school assembly, respectively. Section 3 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Violence in adolescent relationships is a growing problem in society and may result in long-term trauma for the victims. Adolescence is a time when patterns of abuse can develop, and violence in dating relationships may be a precursor for abuse in adult relationships. Teens ought to be educated about the dangers of dating violence during these formative years.
According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in 2017, 10 percent of teenagers in New York City high schools reported experiencing physical violence in a dating relationship within the last year, and 15.4 percent reported experiencing sexual violence in a dating relationship within the last year.
Abuse is not only a physical assault on the victim. Many adolescents are victims of verbal and emotional abuse by their partner. Research has shown that nearly half of all adolescent girls experience verbal abuse in their relationships. Proper education must be implemented to address. Adolescents should also be educated about the forms and dangers of dating violence, as well as what resources exist for victims.
This legislation will establish a toll-free hotline, available 24 hours a day, to assist victims or potential victims of teen dating abuse. Additionally, an assembly addressing the dangers of dating violence would be required in each high school across the state. School adminis- trators would supply students with the toll-free number of the hotline during these assemblies.
Prior legislative history
2019-20: Referred to Children and Families
2021-22: Referred to Children and Families
2023-24: Referred to Children and Families
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately; provided, however, that section two of the act shall apply to any school year commencing at least thirty 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.