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UPDATE: Compliments to the Kentucky House for passing House Bill 8, which would allow dating couples to seek civil protective orders for violence, sexual assault and stalking – protections already granted to married or cohabiting couples, or those who have a child together. The bill goes next to the Senate where we hope for speedy passage.

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Family & Children’s Place supports the speedy passage of several pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 119/House Bill 301, to ensure Kentucky educators are trained to recognize child abuse and prevention, and House Bill 301, which would allow dating couples to seek civil protective orders for violence, sexual assault and stalking.

House Bill 301, filed by House Judiciary Chair John Tilley, D-Hopkinsville, and Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Shively, would provide to dating partners the same protections already granted to married or cohabiting couples, or those who have a child together.

Kentucky is the only state that doesn’t provide these critical protections, and they are critical. Statistics show that one in four women will be victims of domestic violence, and one in five women nationally have been raped or will be the victim of attempted rape. On-campus violence and abuse occur even more – one in three women on college campuses will be victimized – one third of women attending college!

The companion Senate/House bills, filed in the Senate by Sens. Julie Adams, R-Louisville, and E.B. Embry, R-Morgantown, and in the House by Rep. Rita Smart, D-Richmond, would ensure educators are trained on the indicators, from bumps and bruises to overall behavior, to help identify child victims of abuse, violence and neglect. Passage of the measure would go a long way toward helping prevent and end the trauma and abuse that 49 children on average suffer every day in Kentucky.

We encourage you to add your voice to ours. Call your lawmakers and let them you know you support protecting Kentucky kids and giving dating couples the same protections that married and cohabiting couples have had for some time.