Gov. Strickland signs dating-violence prevention bill

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio schools must now try to help stop dating violence, under a bill signed by Gov. Ted Strickland.

It requires local school boards to adopt policies to prevent and address abusive student relationships, train staff on the subject, and add lessons in dating-violence prevention to seventh- through 12th-grade health classes.

The legislation the governor signed Monday has been called “Tina’s Law” after an 18-year-old in southwest Ohio who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1992.

The death of Tina Croucher led her parents to found a nonprofit organization to combat domestic violence. They testified on behalf of the bill.

A spokeswoman for the couple says the new law puts Ohio on a path to becoming a lot safer for teens.