A new national study shows that as many as one third of teen girls are victims of dating violence. Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning plans to introduce legislation in January to fight the problem.

Bruning’s proposal would require all middle and high schools in the state to teach about teen dating violence during health classes. Grades seven through 12 would be included. It’s modeled after a Rhode Island Law passed last year.

Many metro area schools already include domestic violence awareness education some time during the year. But Sue Michalski, with the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council says requiring it state wide is important.

"It's about time,” Michalski says. “It's about time. And I think that we're doing a lot of good things. But it's the requirement that I think is the operative word."

Michalski says dating violence starts at a young age.

"When we're considering youth violence, we're talking about kids in middle school,” Michalski says. “We're talking about 12 or 13 year olds. We're talking about 11, 12 year olds who are already getting into abusive relationships."

And the problems are more than just physical abuse.

"Emotional abuse hurts. Psychological abuse hurts. And sexual abuse hurts,” Michalski says. “Those things are just as oppressive as the fear that comes with the physical level of violence."