The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
——————
PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
——————
PETITION OF:
——————
In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
——————
|
An Act making an appropriation for a pilot domestic abuse prevention program. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby established a pilot program for the purpose of providing classroom based educational programs to help prevent relationship violence. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall, subject to appropriation, enter into a contract with the Katie Brown Educational Foundation for the purpose of developing and implementing the pilot program. The pilot program shall provide classroom based programs in schools in cities and towns within the south coast area of the state, including, but not limited to, Somerset, Swansea, and Taunton. Such programs shall include, but need not be limited to, interactive curricula and sessions to teach students in grades 5 through 12 alternatives to help prevent relationship violence. Such curricula shall be age appropriate, help students understand attitudes and behavior that can result in relationship violence, and develop skills needed to promote respectful relationships. The pilot program shall be undertaken in consultation with the state’s Department of Education and south coast area school officials.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Katie Brown Educational Foundation, shall submit a report on the effectiveness of the pilot program and the possibility of expanding the program to other areas of the state to the Joint Committee on Children and Families and the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees no later than April 2, 2008.
SECTION 2. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall, subject to appropriation, enter into a contract with the Katie Brown Educational Foundation not to exceed $100,000 to implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act.