Sacramento – Today, the Assembly Education Committee passed AB 2053 (Mathis – 2024), which would require that when students are taught about adolescent relationship abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV), they are also provided with information on the domestic violence resources & support services available to them. Assemblyman Mathis issued the following statement after the vote:
“Intimate partner violence is a crisis impacting our country and victims are left suffering with trauma for decades. Currently, the California Healthy Youth Act requires school districts to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12 receive comprehensive sexual health education. This instruction includes information about adolescent relationship abuse and intimate partner violence, including the early warning signs thereof. Unfortunately, when this law was passed, the Legislature did not require school districts to provide information on the domestic violence resources & hotlines that are available to students. We are teaching kids about intimate partner violence, including teen domestic violence, but more must be done to ensure they are aware of the resources available to them should they ever need it. AB 2053 corrects this discrepancy and the Education Committee unanimously recognized the need for this bill. This bill will now go to the Appropriations Committee.”
#####
