Bill Text: NJ AJR40 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates February of each year as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [AJR40 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AJR40-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Designates February of each year as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating February of each year as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey.
Whereas, One in three female teens in a dating relationship have feared for their physical safety, and nearly one in five teens who have been in a serious relationship said their boyfriend or girlfriend would threaten to hurt themselves or their partner if there was a breakup; and
Whereas, More than one in four teens have been in a relationship where their partner has verbally abused them, while one in five teens in a serious relationship report they have been hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner; and
Whereas, Twenty-nine percent of girls who have been in relationships said they have been pressured to have sex or engage in sex they did not want, nearly 50 percent of girls worry that their partner would break up with them if they did not agree to engage in sex, and one in two teens in serious relationships have compromised their beliefs to please their partner; and
Whereas, The severity of violence among intimate partners has been shown to increase if the pattern has been established in adolescence, and violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications for victims who are at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide, and adult re-victimization; and
Whereas, Eighty-one percent of parents surveyed either believe dating violence is not an issue or admit they do not know if it is an issue; and
Whereas, Thirteen percent of Hispanic teens reported that hitting a partner was permissible; and
Whereas, Native American women experience higher rates of interpersonal violence than any other population group; and
Whereas, The permanent establishment of a Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in this State will serve to improve the health and increase the safety of New Jersey teens who are involved in dating relationships; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. February of each year is designated as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey in order to promote public awareness and increase prevention of teen dating violence.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing February as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials, high schools, law enforcement agencies, the citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates February of each year as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey in order to promote public awareness and increase prevention of teen dating violence. Under the joint resolution, the Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing February as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials, high schools, law enforcement agencies, the citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
