STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 53rd Legislature (2012)

SENATE BILL 1421	By:	Johnson (Constance)

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to dating violence; permitting certain school districts to incorporate specified dating violence information into health curriculum; permitting certain parents or guardians to review specified information; permitting district boards of education to prescribe and enforce certain policies; defining terms; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24-100.7 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  A school district that provides instruction in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) may incorporate dating violence information that is age-appropriate into the school district’s existing health curriculum for students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) that includes the following components:
1.  A definition of dating violence;
2.  The recognition of dating violence warning signs; and
3.  The characteristics of healthy relationships.
B.  On written request to the principal of the school where a child is enrolled, the parent or guardian of a student who is under eighteen (18) years of age shall be permitted to review the dating violence information instructional materials within a reasonable time after submitting the written request.
C.  A district board of education may prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to address incidents of dating violence involving students at school that may be based on a model dating violence policy.
D.  For purposes of this section:
1.  "Dating violence" means a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or actually uses, physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating partner; and
2.  "Dating partner" means any person, regardless of gender, involved in an intimate relationship with another primarily characterized by the expectation of affectionate involvement whether casual, serious or long-term.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2012.

53-2-2422	JM	1/18/2012 11:41:25 AM