City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2010-0319

• File #: 2010-0319
• Version: 1
• Type: Will of Council
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 4/13/2010
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 4/13/2010
• Enactment date: 4/13/2010
• Enactment #: 186
• Title: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby join with the Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization, in encouraging, endorsing, and supporting the passage of H.B. 2026, the Demi Brae Cuccia Law, by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and it is FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh urges citizens to better educate themselves on dating violence, beginning by visiting www.DemiBrae.com.
• Sponsors: Darlene M. Harris
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MRS. HARRIS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/13/2010	1	City Council	Adopted	Pass

Body
WHEREAS, teen dating violence is a state and national problem that affects students in middle school and high school; and

WHEREAS, according to a March 2006 survey commissioned by Liz Claiborne Inc., one in five teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner; one in three girls who have been in a serious relationship say they have been concerned about being physically hurt; one in four teens who have been in a serious relationship say their partner has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family; and

WHEREAS, all students could benefit from education which includes recognizing warning signs about dating violence and characteristics of healthy relationships; and
WHEREAS, after the brutal death of their daughter at the hands of her former boyfriend on the day after her 16th birthday, Dr. Gary Anthony Cuccia and his wife Johanna started the Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization with the intent of raising awareness about Teen Dating Violence, and to seek passage of legislation to mandate the teaching of this subject; and
WHEREAS, at the prompting of Dr. & Mrs. Cuccia and their daughter Alexa, the Honor­able H. Scott Conklin, State Representative from Centre County, along with numerous cosponsors including Western Pennsylvania Representatives Dan Frankel, Chelsa Wagner, Harry A. Readshaw, Daniel J. Deasy, Dom Costa, R. Ted Harhai, Timothy Solobay, Tim Mahoney, William Kortz, Jesse White, Robert F Matzie, Jaret Gibbons, and Joseph F. Markosek, introduced House Bill 2026, amending the Public School Code of 1949, providing for dating violence education, to be known as the Demi Brae Cuccia Law; and
WHEREAS, on March 16th, the State House of Representatives passed H.B. 2026 on to the State Senate; and
WHEREAS, other states have passed laws mandating teen dating violence education be taught in school health classes, and have found such classes to bear negligible expense and maximal effect;...