(1) The program curriculum shall be based on a psychoeducational or cognitive behavioral therapy intervention model that recognizes domestic violence and dating violence as the result of one person in an intimate relationship systematically using tactics of coercion, emotional abuse and physical violence in order to assert power and control over the other. The curriculum shall incorporate the following elements/content:
    (a) An educational approach that assigns responsibility for the violence solely to the batterer and provides a strategy for assisting the batterer in taking responsibility for the violence,
    (b) Encourages the batterer to develop critical thinking skills that will allow the batterer to rethink their behavior and identify behavior choices other than violence,
    (c) Addresses intimate partner violence as a learned behavior, not an impulse control issue,
    (d) Domestic violence is not provoked or the result of substance abuse and recognizes substance abuse patterns in domestic violence,
    (e) The batterer’s ability to identify and articulate feelings,
    (f) Communication skills and listening with empathy,
    (g) Negotiation and conflict resolution skills,
    (h) Addresses gender specific forms of violence and challenges stereotypical gender role expectations,
    (i) Strategies for helping the batterer to develop and improve support systems,
    (j) The effects of distorted thinking on emotions and behavior, and
    (k) The effects of domestic violence on children.
    (2) The program curriculum shall not include the following elements:
    (a) Couples, marriage or family therapy, or any manner of victim participation;
    (b) Anger management techniques that identify anger as the cause of domestic violence;
    (c) Theories or techniques that identify poor impulse control as the primary cause of the domestic violence or identify psychopathology on the part of either party as a primary cause of domestic violence;
    (d) Fair fighting techniques; or
    (e) Faith-based ideology associated with a particular religion or denomination.
    (3) The program curriculum shall be submitted with the initial certification application and in annual monitoring to the ODV which will review for compliance with rule and statute.
Rulemaking Authority 741.327 FS. Law Implemented 741.32, 741.325, 741.327 FS. History—New 9-4-22.