In May 2010, I proposed the NJ SAFE DATING LAW to Assemblyman Bucco. We worked together with Assemblyman David Wolfe & Assemblywoman Voss to rewrite the current legislation that was already existing to REQUIRE all public middle schools & high schools grades 7-12 in NJ to add SAFE DATING to their annual health curriculum, as well as establishing a dating abuse policy for the school district. This legislation became A2920/S2114. I had the honor of testifying in front of the Assembly Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee to share my knowledge & expertise about TEEN DATING ABUSE and why this legislation is so critical. Both committees unanimously voted YES and the Full Senate & Full Assembly voted unanimously YES! On March 21, 2011, I had the honor of being on the Senate floor and watching the A2920 vote, which was 37-0. What a beautiful day it was!!! I am the NJ State Action Leader for the national organization Love is Not Abuse and the owner of Express Yourself Today Counseling Center in Chester, NJ, which specializes in dating abuse & date rape treatment. I have written 3 books on SAFE DATING- "7 Secrets for Girls ~ Simple Solutions to Survive Boys & Stay Sane", "Teen Talk for Parents ~ 7 Secrets for Safe, Smart & Successful Teens", and "Safe Dating for College Women ~ 7 Secrets for Dating Safely, Building High Self-Esteem & Developing Healthy Relationships". Love is Not Abuse reports that 1 in 3 teens is currently in an abusive dating relationship. I see this firsthand at my counseling center in NJ. The Dept of Justice reports that 30% of girls & women who are murdered in the U.S. are killed by their boyfriends, husbands, ex-boyfriends, or ex-husbands. TEEN DATING ABUSE has become a national health crisis. If NJ SCHOOLS choose to use the best curriculum available, which is the Love Is Not Abuse curriculum, it will be FREE for the school district. They can also use the FREE online staff training developed by Love Is Not Abuse & the CDC. Relationships are the foundation of our lives, whether it is with yourself, your family, friends, or intimate partners. The NJ SAFE DATING LAW will teach kids what a healthy relationship is and is not and what to do if they suddenly find themselves in an abusive dating situation. This law is going to save lives not only in NJ, but across the nation. I hope the rest of the states will follow in our footsteps and REQUIRE that SAFE DATING education be taught in their school districts. Let's work together to make our kids safe...there is nothing more important in life than that!