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Legislative Reports will be posted when there is relevant state legislative activity. May 2005; February 2005; October 2004; May 2004; October 2003; June 2003; May 2003; January/February 2003; September 2002; May 2002; April 2002; March 2002; February 2002; January 2002 2006 State Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Legislative Report1Alabama Alaska Arizona Senate Bill 1192 requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health Services and the Department of Economic Security, to develop standards for teen pregnancy and parenting programs that provide services for pregnant and/or parenting teens. The programs would include parenting education and life skills instruction. School districts or charter schools with effective programs would be eligible for funding. The bill was introduced in January 2006 to the Senate Committee on Education K-12 and the Senate Committee on Rules. It has passed out of Senate Committee on Education K-12. Family Information and Youth Protection Act Introduced Senate Bill 1417, introduced in January 2006, requires any school that “receives abstinence-only funding or that elects to teach abstinence-only education in any grade six through twelve” to provide notice to the parents or guardians of pupils. The notification must state that their children will not receive “information about methods, other than abstinence, for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome” as well as other information about what will not be taught in the class. The notification must also inform parents that they have the right to review such curricula and explain how they can comment on the curriculum. The notification will also explain that a parent can excuse their child from the class(es). The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education K-12 and the Senate Committee on Rules, but failed to pass. Arkansas California . Assembly Bill 2311 prohibits teachers from teaching about or advocating for socialism, humanism, or homosexuality. It was introduced in February 2006 and failed to pass out of the Committee on Education. Bill Bans Surveys on Gender and Sexual Orientation Assembly Bill 2891 changes existing law that prohibits students from being questioned on numerous subjects without parent or guardian permission to include language about gender and sexual orientations. The bill was introduced in February 2006 and failed to pass the Assembly Committee on Education. California Community Sexual Health Education Act Passes Senate and Assembly Committee on Health The California Community Sexual Health Education Act, Senate Bill 1471, requires that any education that is intended to prevent teenage or unintended pregnancy and/or STDs and is conducted, administered, or receives funding from the state meet certain requirements. These requirements include that this education be medically accurate, age-appropriate, and, if age-appropriate, include information on abstinence and “the effectiveness and safety of one or more drugs or devices approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration” for use in preventing unintended pregnancies or STDs. These programs would also not be allowed to “reflect or promote bias against any person on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race, or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.” All requirements hold if the program is multi- or single session. The bill, introduced in February 2006, has passed the Senate and the Assembly Committee on Health, and is currently in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Bill Restricts Sexuality Education Instruction, Bans Certain Subjects Assembly Bill 349 places restrictions on “comprehensive sexual health education, HIV/AIDS prevention education, and assessments related to that education” by banning certain subjects in kindergarten through sixth grade and requiring parental permission for each day these subjects are discussed in seventh through twelfth grade. Subjects include domestic partnerships, homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism, necrophilia, and sadism. Under this legislation, instruction is defined as “an assignment, demonstration, depiction, discussion, dissemination, display, explanation, posting, question, survey, or test.” The bill was introduced in February 2005 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education where it died in January 2006. Counties To Develop Integrated Health and Human Services Assembly Bill 392, introduced in February 2005, allows any county in California to develop and implement a program of integrated health and human services. Currently, only certain pre-approved counties can implement such a program. This legislation also allows such programs to include the integration of Adolescent Family Life programs and HIV/AIDS education. The bill was passed by the Assembly but died in the Senate in January 2006. Bill Establishes Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program Introduced in February 2005, Assembly Bill 506 requires each school district to implement programs and policies for dealing with teen dating violence. In addition, the state department of education must incorporate teen violence education into the new framework when it revises the health curriculum. The bill passed the Assembly Committee on Education and subsequently died in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Legislation Adds Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Requirements to Sexuality Education Classes Assembly Bill 1217 requires schools that teach sexuality education to emphasize abstinence-only-until-marriage approaches; discuss the possible emotional, psychological, and financial consequences of sex outside of marriage; advise students that it is unlawful to have sex with anyone under the age of 18 (unless they are married); and teach how not to make or accept unwanted sexual advances. The bill was introduced in February 2005 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education, where it died in January 2006. Legislation Allows Opt-Out Based On Religious Beliefs Senate Bill 1043, introduced in February 2005, allows parents to remove their children from any portion of health or family life instruction due to the parents' religious beliefs. Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida House Bill 625 and Senate Bill 1728 require the principal of any school that receives abstinence-only-until-marriage funding or provides such programming to students in grades 6 through 12 to send a notice home to parents of impacted students. This notice must inform parents that their child is participating in an abstinence-only-until-marriage program and that the program will not teach about methods for preventing unintended pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, other than abstinence. It must also tell parents that they have the right to remove their child from such instruction. The bill also provides remedies if a parent believes they should have received such notification and has not. The House Bill was introduced in January 2006 to the House Committee on Pre-K through 12, the House Committee on Health Care General, the House Committee on Education Appropriations, and the House Education Council. The Senate Bill was introduced in February 2006 to the Senate Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Health Care, and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Both bills subsequently died. Prevention First Act Introduced House Bill 1073 and Senate Bill 2458 create the Prevention First Act. This legislation has three main purposes, the first of which is to require the Secretary of Health to include information on family planning and referrals to family planning clinics on the Department of Health website. The second purpose is to require the Department of Education to develop a plan to provide comprehensive family life and sexuality education no later than the 2009-2010 school year and to implement this education the following school year. This education must be medically accurate, age-appropriate, promote abstinence, and include the “medically accurate use of contraception measures.” The legislation also includes a provision whereby an individual that believes a local school district is not providing such education may request a review of the program. If the school district is found to be out of compliance, the school district can be held as having “not met the objectives of any school improvement plan of the district.” The third purpose is to require health care practitioners to prescribe or provide rape survivors with emergency contraception. The House Bill was introduced to the House Committee on Health Care General, House Committee on Pre-K through 12, House Committee on Health Care Appropriations, House Committee on Education Appropriations, and House Health and Families Council. The Senate Bill was introduced in March 2006 to the Senate Committee on Health Care, the Senate Committee on Education, and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Appropriations. Both bills died. Georgia Hawaii House Bill 2060 closely resembles House Bill 2079 and Senate Bill 2172 (see below), but requires medically accurate information be taught by recipients of state and federal funding, while the other bills require medically accurate information be taught only from recipients of state funding. The bill was introduced in January 2006 and has passed the House Committees on Health and on Judiciary. It currently sits in the House Committee on Finance. Medical Accuracy Legislation Introduced Introduced in January 2006, House Bill 2079 and Senate Bill 2172 requires “any recipient of state funding that provides information or offers programs regarding sex, family planning, pregnancy counseling, or sexually transmitted diseases” to provide medically and factually accurate information that is age-appropriate. The legislation also requires that recipients teach about both abstinence and contraception. These bills define both “factual information” and “medically accurate” information. The House Bill has passed out of the Committee on Health; it now resides in the House Committee on Finance. The Senate Bill was assigned to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. These bills vary slightly from H.B. 236, S.B. 483, and S.B. 2139 (see below), which were introduced in January 2005. Medical Accuracy Legislation Introduced, Would Exempt Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs Senate Bill 2139, introduced in January 2006, would require the same standards from any recipient of state funding as described in House Bill 2079 and Senate Bill 2172 (see below), but would exempt programs that are “required to exclusively promote abstinence-only curriculum or programs.” The bill was passed by the Senate and by the House Committee on Health. It sits in the House Committee on Judiciary. Medical Accuracy Legislation Introduced House Bill 236 and Senate Bill 483, introduced in January 2005, requires any recipient of state funding that provides sex education, family planning information, pregnancy counseling, or information about STDs to use medically accurate, factually based information. This education must also include information about abstinence and contraception. The bills define medical accuracy as “verified or supported by research conducted in compliance with scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals, where appropriate, and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant fields, such as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.” Since its introduction, the House passed the bill and sent it to the Senate, where it resides in the Senate Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Education and Military Affairs. The Senate Bill was initially assigned to, and still resides in, the Senate Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Education and Military Affairs. These bills vary slightly from H.B. 2060, H.B. 2079, and S.B 2172, which were introduced in 2006 (see above). Bills Expand School Health Services Introduced in January 2005, House Bill 1003 and Senate Bill 1517 would provide for the planning and implementation of comprehensive school health services with an emphasis on school-based health centers. As part of this plan, schools may include “health education, including medically accurate, factually based sex education.” These projects could not “promote, provide, or provide referrals to abortions or abortion-related services.” Both bills also include funding for evaluation of the effectiveness of the school-based health programs. Since its introduction, the House Bill passed through the House Committee on Human Services, the House Committee on Health, and the House Committee on Education. The Senate Bill sits in the Senate Committee on Education and Military Affairs as well as the Senate Committee on Health. In addition, four separate resolutions, House Resolutions 23 and 26 and Senate Resolutions 6 and 9, express support for the aforementioned bills. Resolution Supports Updating Health Education Content and Standards Senate Concurrent Resolution 89 expresses support for the revision of Hawaii's health education content and performance standards in middle and high schools. The resolution requests that the Department of Education in conjunction with the Department of Health review and revise these standards. The Resolution was introduced in March 2005 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Military Affairs as well as the Senate Committee on Health. Idaho Executive Order 11 reestablished the Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. The Council must consist of no more than 19 members who are appointed by the Governor. Among other duties, it provides administrative support to the Title V “abstinence education” program. The Order was introduced in April 2006 and is effective for four years. Illinois Introduced in January 2006, Senate Bill 2267, the Age-Appropriate Sex Education Grant Program , would establish a grant program for curricula development and implementation of sex education programs. Eligible applicants would include public school districts, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, or partnerships between a school district and a community-based organization. Programs established through a grant must be age-appropriate, medically accurate, stress the value of abstinence, include information about contraception, and encourage family communication about sexuality. The bill passed out of the Health & Human Services Committee and was referred to the Senate Committees on Rules. Legislation Adds Information About Teen Dating Violence to Health Education House Bill 1404 requires that information about “teen dating violence in grades 8 through 12” be included in health education curricula. The bill was introduced in January 2005 and was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Rules and the Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education; it then passed out of both committees and was passed by the House. The bill resides in the Senate Committee on Rules. Indiana House Bill 1202 mandates schools to show a preference for marriage above all other domestic relationships. Domestic relationships are defined as those “relationships between two adults who are sexual partners and share a residential dwelling.” The legislation was introduced in January 2006 and placed in the House Committee on Education. Iowa House Bill 596, introduced in March 2005 and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, amends Iowa's civil rights statutes to prohibit discrimination, including access to educational institutions, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill includes an exception for “bona fide religious institutions, if related to a bona fide religious purpose.” Bill Requires Age-Appropriate and Science-Based Education; Allows Sexuality Education House Bill 605 requires schools to teach age-appropriate and science-based human growth and family education. The bill states that comprehensive sexual health education could be taught as part of the aforementioned instruction. The bill was introduced in March 2005. Kansas Senate Bill 508 requires each school district to provide a “comprehensive education program in human sexuality.” This would include requiring teachers who have “appropriate academic preparation or in-service training to develop a basic knowledge of and sensitivity to the area of human sexuality.” All curricula and related materials must be factually and medically accurate as well as age-appropriate. The bill was introduced in February 2006 and passed the Senate. It was placed in the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs, where it later died. Kentucky
Louisiana Senate Bill 111, introduced in March 2006, requires that adoption awareness be included in any health education or appropriate class. This means that instruction on “the benefits of adoption for families wishing to add a child, for potential adoptees, and for persons who are pregnant or who have a child for whom they are unable to care.” The bill passed on June 2006 and is now law. Maine Senate Bill 605A, introduced in May 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, allows schools to offer “abstinence education” in grades 7 through 12 in place of or in addition to comprehensive family life education. The bill uses the federal government's eight-point definition of “abstinence education.” The Joint Committee determined that the bill “ought not to pass.” Legislation Requires Written Permission for Students to Participate in Comprehensive Family Life Education House Bill 1045, introduced in March 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, requires written permission from a parent or guardian before a student can participate in comprehensive family life education classes. The school administrator is required to tell parents and guardians whether “abstinence will be taught and whether homosexuality will be discussed.” This is referred to as an “opt-in” policy. The Joint Committee determined that the bill “ought not to pass.” Maryland Massachusetts House Bills 42 and 44 would amend Massachusetts' Fiscal Year 2005 budget to state that, “funds dedicated to the abstinence education project in the department of public health shall be used solely for classroom education, and not for advertising or media purchases.” The amendment was initiated by Governor Mitt Romney and rejected by both the House and Senate and sent back to the Governor. The Governor then vetoed the rejection and sent the bill back to the House for reconsideration. The House stood by its rejection; however, the Governor ignored the House's action and applied directly to the federal government to change how the funds can be used. Legislation Requires Opt-In for Human Sexuality Education House Bills 1011 and 1166 require parent or guardian permission for any class focusing on “human sexual education or human sexuality issues.” Schools can dispense with permission if the “school principal or his designee” finds that such notification would be detrimental to the well being of the student.” The bills further state that such classes can not be mandatory. Both bills were introduced in January 2005 and were heard by the Joint Committee on Education where they were set aside for further study. Bill Requires Parent Permission for Sexuality Education House Bill 1015, introduced in January 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Education, requires written permission from a parent or guardian before a student can participate in sexuality education. In addition, sexuality education can only be offered on an elective basis and no teacher or employee who feels that the education violated his or her religious beliefs would be required to participate. The bill was heard by the Joint Committee and was set aside for further study. The bill varies slightly from H.B. 1166 (see above). Legislation Requires Parent Permission for Certain Kinds of Education House Bill 1050 requires any school district that has a program that involves “human sexual education, human sexuality education, or sexual orientation” to have a written policy to guarantee parent or guardian permission. The legislation also requires that such education be offered only in non-mandatory elective classes. All materials in these classes must be available for parent or guardian review. No teacher or administrator is required to participate in these classes. The bill was introduced in January 2005 and died in the Joint Committee on Education. Legislation Includes HIV/AIDS Prevention in Health Education House Bill 1079, introduced in January 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Education, requires HIV/AIDS prevention education to be included in health education. The bill was heard by the Joint Committee and was set aside for further study. Bill Creates Local School Health Advisory Committees House Bill 1214, introduced in January 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Education, requires the creation of a school health advisory council in each school district. The council is to determine curricula and the number of hours of instruction for health education. The majority of council members must be parents of students enrolled in the school district and the parents must not be employed by the school district. The school board is allowed to appoint the remainder of the board at its own discretion. The bill was set aside for further study. Legislation Creates Health Education Curriculum Committee House Bill 1638, introduced in January 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health, requires each school district to establish a Health Education Curriculum Committee. This Committee is to “research and make recommendations on a comprehensive, age-appropriate, factually, and medically accurate health education curriculum for grades K-12.” Schools that already have a health education program that meets the aforementioned requirements would be exempt from the requirement. Each school district is also charged with adopting a parent notification policy. The bill was heard by the Joint Committee and set aside for further study. H.B. 1638 varies slightly from H.B. 1166 (see above). Act To Promote Healthy Behaviors Introduced House Bill 2712 and Senate Bill 101, both introduced in January 2005, require that a program of community-based health and sexuality education services be provided by family planning agencies. The program would focus on high-risk populations, parents and guardians of young people, and youth-serving organizations. The bills were heard by the Joint Committee on Public Health and were passed by the Joint Committee on Children and Families. The Joint Committee on Public Health set both aside for further study. Bill Creates Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program House Bill 2855, introduced in January 2005 and referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health, creates a program that would train “mothers…who became pregnant while unwed” to work in a two-year long program in public schools. The bill was heard by the Joint Committee and was aside for further study. Michigan Minnesota House Bill 3708, introduced in March 2006, and Senate Bill 2977, introduced in January 2006, allow school districts to implement age-appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education programs in grades K through 6 and mandate that they provide such education in grades 7 through 12. This education must take an abstinence-first approach, but must also include information on contraception when age-appropriate. School districts are required to establish procedures for how parents and guardians could review all related educational materials. Parents and guardians are able to remove their children from any or all of the sexuality education. The legislation also states that the Department of Education may offer services to help school districts craft and implement these programs. This may be done by creating eight regional training centers. The Senate Bill was assigned to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Bill was assigned to the House Committee on Education Policy and Reform Legislation Implements Sexuality Education in Schools, Creates Regional Training Sites for Sexuality Education, and Change Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs House Bill 646 and Senate Bill 581, both introduced in January 2005, require, in part, that school districts implement comprehensive family life and sexuality education no later than the 2008-2009 school year. This education must be medically accurate, age-appropriate, encourage family communication, promote responsible sexual behavior, and include both abstinence and contraception. The legislation establishes eight regional training centers in partnership with school districts to help implement the aforementioned education by providing technical assistance, advice on curricula, and training. In addition, the bills change Minnesota's current ENABL (Education Now and Babies Later) program by switching its focus from promoting abstinence-only-until-marriage to providing “comprehensive sexuality education that promotes abstinence and promotes male sexual responsibility.” The bills also create a grant program to provide after-school enrichment programs and ensure greater access to family planning services. The House Bill was referred to the House Committee on Health Policy and Finance. The Senate Bill was passed by the Senate Committee on Health and Family Security and the Committee on Education; it currently resides in the Senate Committee on Finance. Bill Includes Information About Criminal Sexual Conduct in STD Prevention House Bill 1071, introduced in February 2005 and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy and Reform, requires that information about criminal sexual conduct be included in STD education in either grade 10, 11, or 12. Legislation Requires Sexuality Education in Later Grades, Encourages It in Earlier Grades House Bill 1301 and Senate Bills 878 and 1262 encourage school districts to implement age-appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education programs in grades K through 6 and mandate that they provide such education in grades 7 through 12. This education must promote abstinence, be respectful of marriage and committed relationships, encourage parent-child communication about sexuality, and be appropriate for “use with pupils and family experiences based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic and cultural background, and appropriately accommodate alternative learning based on language or disability.” Parents and guardians are able to remove their children from any or all of the sexuality education program. The legislation also charges the Department of Education with providing services to help school districts develop, implement, and maintain these sexuality education programs. All bills were introduced in February 2005. The House Bill is currently in the House Committee on Education Policy and Reform; both Senate bills are in the Senate Committee on Education. These bills vary slightly from S.B. 100A, which was introduced in July 2005 (see below). Pregnancy Prevention Funding To Come Out of TANF House Bill 2150 would use funds from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to create teen pregnancy prevention programs for at-risk youth. The bill was introduced in March 2005 and placed in the House Committee on Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy and Finance. Legislation Requires Sexuality Education in Later Grades, Encourages It in Earlier Grades Senate Bill 100A, introduced in July 2005, encourages school districts to implement age-appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education programs in grades K through 6 and mandates that they provide such education in grades 7 through 12. This education must be age-appropriate, respect community values and encourage family communication as well as “promote responsible sexual behavior, including an abstinence-first approach to delaying initiation to sexual activity.” It must also include information about contraception. School districts are required to establish procedures for how parents and guardians could review all related educational materials. Parents and guardians are able to remove their children from any or all of the sexuality education. The bill was introduced in July 2005 and is currently in the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. This legislation varies slightly from H.B. 1301 which was introduced in February 2005 (see above). Mississippi House Bill 1465 and Senate Bill 2716 require all public school districts to include “abstinence education and the human development of the unborn fetus as a required component of every high school health education class.” Among other purposes, the inclusion of this information would “create a culture of life by providing a window to the womb.” The State Department of Health is responsible for developing the program and may contract with a nonprofit organization to implement it. In addition, public school nurses are prohibited from “providing abortion counseling to any student or referring any student to abortion counseling or abortion clinics.” If a school nurse violates this section, the school district will not be able to receive any state administered funds. The Senate Bill was introduced in January 2006 and was subsequently assigned to the House Committee on Public Health and Human Services and the Committee on Education. Both committees, as well as the Senate, passed it. The legislation currently resides in the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on Public Health and Human Services. The House Bill was introduced in January 2006 and assigned to the House Committee on Education, both bills died in this Committee. Legislation Requires Parent Opt-In for Sexuality Education, Limits Information Collected from Students Senate Bill 2544, the Student and Family Privacy Protection Act, requires parent permission in order to allow a student to participate in any survey or evaluation that asks about the student's sexual attitudes, beliefs, or behavior. Students also need parent or guardian permission to participate in health or sexuality education; this is commonly referred to as an opt-in policy. The bill was introduced in January 2006 and assigned to the Committee on Education, where it died. Missouri House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 776, both introduced in January 2006, prohibit any person or entity that is “a provider of abortion services” from providing, offering, sponsoring, or furnishing class materials or instruction on human sexuality. The bill provides an exemption, however, if the abortion is necessary to save the “life of the mother.” Parents must also be notified about the names and affiliations of all instructors. The Senate Bill extends this legislation and existing regulations to apply to charter schools as well. It would also remove the requirement that such information be factually accurate. The Senate Bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee. The House Bill was passed by the House and is currently awaiting Senate action. Bill Intends to Reduce the Numbers of Abortion House Bill 1520 and Senate Bill 943 aim to reduce the number of abortions throughout the state. Among other initiatives, the legislation sets up a system for any individual who believes that their school district is not providing the required sexuality education. An individual may complain to the state auditor and attorney general. The bills also include ensuring access to emergency contraception for rape survivors and guaranteeing access to birth control. Both bills were introduced in January 2006. The Senate Bill was assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Civil, and Criminal Jurisprudence and the House Bill was assigned to the House Committee on Children and Families. Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire House Bill 1766, introduced in January 2006 and referred to the House Committee on Education, directs the state board of education to investigate the status of STD education in kindergarten through 12 th grade and then report this information to the relevant House and Senate committees. The report would include information on “abstinence-only, abstinence-based, and non-abstinence-based course materials, instruction, and counseling activities.” Bill Strengthens Abstinence Requirements House Bill 39, introduced in January 2005 and referred to the House Committee on Education, requires all sex education classes to follow abstinence-only-until-marriage guidelines. Among other requirements, “course material and instruction shall teach honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage” and “shall stress that pupils should abstain from sexual intercourse until they are ready for marriage.” The bill also allows parents or guardians to remove their child from such courses with written objection. New Jersey Assembly Bill 814, introduced in January 2006 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education, requires that instruction on parenting, including responsibilities and obligations, be included in any family life education course. Comprehensive Family Life Education Bill Introduced Assembly Bill 901, introduced in January 2006 and assigned to the Assembly Committee on Education, requires each board of education in the state to offer comprehensive family life education. The legislation defines family life education as “education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, that is medically accurate and age-appropriate; respects community values and encourages parental communication; promotes responsible sexual behavior and addresses both abstinence and the use of contraception; promotes individual responsibility and involvement regarding sexuality; and teaches skills for responsible decision-making regarding sexuality.” The bill also repeals current New Jersey law requiring that such courses stress abstinence as the only completely reliable means for eliminating STDs and avoiding pregnancy. Legislation Allows Students to Opt-Out Senate Bill 979 allows a student enrolled in health, family life, or sexual education programs, at a school that requires participation in such classes, to be excused from the requirements if they present a signed statement that such classes are in conflict with their religious or moral beliefs. The student cannot be penalized for being excused. The bill was introduced in January 2006 and assigned to the Senate Committee on Education. New Mexico House Joint Memorial 40, introduced in January 2006 and assigned to the Committee on Education, supports the Secretary of Health's decision to limit abstinence-only-until-marriage programs to grades six and below and to provide comprehensive sexuality education to grades seven and above. Multiple Bills Appropriate Funds for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs House Bill 193, introduced in January 2006, appropriates $1 million for the education department to fund programs for teen mothers and fathers to learn about pregnancy prevention, parenting, and family skills. The bill was placed in the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on Appropriations. The bill passed out of the House Committee on Education. House Bill 664 allocates $200,000 to expand a male involvement program and $250,000 to develop and implement a program based on the Carrera model. House Bill 857 has the same expenditures as H.B.664. Both were introduced in January 2006 and placed in the House Committee on Consumer and Public Affairs and the House Committee on Appropriations and Finance. H.B. 644 passed out of the House Committee on Consumer and Public Affairs. Senate Bill 160, similar to H.B. 193, appropriates $2 million for the education department to fund programs for teen mothers and fathers to learn about pregnancy prevention, parenting, and family skills. S.B. 160 was introduced in the Senate Committee on Committees, the Senate Committee on Public Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Finance. It has passed the Senate Committee on Committees. Senate Bill 592 allocates $2.6 million for teen pregnancy prevention programs that have been proven to reduce teen pregnancy by fifty percent. The bill was introduced in the Senate Committee on Committees and the Senate Committee on Finance. It passed the Senate Committee on Committees. Senate Bill 642 allocates $2.6 million for a statewide teen pregnancy prevention program. The bill was introduced in the Senate Committee on Committees and the Senate Committee on Finance. It has passed the Senate Committee on Committees. New York Assembly Bill 6015 bans all instruction relating to “alternative sexual lifestyles.” The bill defines alternative sexual lifestyles as “sexual lifestyles that are alternative to heterosexual relationships, including but not limited to homosexual relationships.” An exception is made if the instruction is within the context of “instruction concerning the risk and prevention of sexually transmitted disease.” The bill was introduced in March 2005 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education. Healthy Teens Act Introduced Assembly Bill 6619B and Senate Bill 5121, introduced in March and April 2005, respectively, and referred to their respective Committees on Health, would establish an age-appropriate sexuality education grant program with the intent of providing “at-risk adolescents with the information, assistance, skills, and support to enable them to make responsible decisions, including abstaining from sexual intercourse and for those who do become sexually active, the use of condoms or contraceptives effectively.” The bills outline the parameters of such programs, including requirements that they be medically accurate and provide information on contraceptives. A.B. 6619B passed the House, but failed in the Senate by one vote. Bill Broadens Definition of Eligible Adolescents Assembly Bill 5720 and Senate Bill 6485 expand the current definition of adolescents eligible for the adolescent pregnancy and prevention services act. Under the new definition, adolescents are eligible to receive services if they are under twenty-one years of age and are either sexually active, a victim of rape or incest, a high school drop-out, the younger sibling of an individual who was or is a teenage parent, someone who has had an abortion, miscarriage, or a pregnancy test, even if the outcome of the test was negative. The Senate Bill was introduced in January 2006 and referred to the Senate Committee on Social Services, Children, and Family. The Assembly Bill was introduced in February 2005 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Social Services. Bill Includes Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness in Health Education Assembly Bill 8415 requires all public schools to include in their health education “instruction concerning the recognition, avoidance, refusal, and reporting of incidences of sexual abuse and assault.” This instruction must be age-appropriate and be taught by either regular or health teachers in the primary school grades, and by health teachers in the secondary school grades. The bill was introduced in May 2005. It passed the Assembly and currently sits in the Senate Committee on Codes. North Carolina House Bill 1059 makes technical changes to current health education code. Changes include changing “AIDS” to “HIV/AIDS” and “homosexual acts” to “acts prohibited under North Carolina law.” The legislation also clarifies language on the use of contraceptives to state that they must be discussed in the context of actual use, when “information on actual use is available.” The bill also adds language to teach how alcohol and drug use lower inhibition and that this may lead to risky sexual behavior. The bill became law. Bill Grants Funding to Family Life Council of Greater Greensboro House Bill 1884, introduced in May 2006 and referred to the House Committee on Appropriations, appropriates $100,000 for the Family Life Council of Greater Greensboro to implement a male responsibility teen pregnancy prevention program. Bills Appropriate Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Funds House Bill 2747 and Senate Bill 1987 allocate $200,000 for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina. Both bills were introduced in May 2006 and currently sit in their respective Committee on Appropriations. Senate Bill 1516 also allocates funds for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina, but in the amount of $150,000. S.B. 1516 was introduced in May 2006 and referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget. North Dakota Ohio House Bill 588 and Senate Bill 328, both introduced in May 2006, ensure contraceptive coverage in health insurance, require that emergency contraception be provided to rape survivors, and set up standards by which a pharmacist must either fill all prescriptions or provide another way for the prescription to be filled. The legislation also requires that “venereal disease education” emphasize abstinence, but also “devote equal attention to contraception and condom use as a way to prevent unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and the transmission of a virus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.” The information must be taught in a medically accurate manner and discuss both the “health benefits and effectiveness rates in realistic use.” Another section of the legislation requires the Department of Health to establish a funding program for teen pregnancy prevention programs. Funded programs would have to be proven effective and meet other requirements, as stated in the legislation. The House Bill passed the House Committee on Rules and References and now sits in the House Committee on Health. The Senate Bill currently sits in the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, and Education. Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island House Bill 5354 and Senate Bill 460, both introduced in February 2005, require health education, including sexuality education, to be taught in grades K through 12. The House Bill was referred to the House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare and the Senate Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education. South Carolina South Dakota House Bill 1217 places numerous restrictions on what is taught in schools. Instruction must follow an abstinence-only-until-marriage model and could not be based on models of instruction based on risk reduction, including “encouraging, promoting, and providing instruction in the use of contraceptive drugs, devices, or methods.” Such instruction must also “inform students that engaging in unlawful sexual activity may be a crime punishable by law.” School districts are required to create an advisory board and the majority of members must be parents who have children currently in the school district. The bill was introduced in January 2006, passed the House, and then died in the Senate. Bill Requires Balanced Instruction in Human Sexuality Senate Bill 196, introduced in January 2006 and assigned to the Senate Committee on Education, requires public school students in grades six through eight to receive instruction on human sexuality. This instruction must be age-appropriate, medically accurate, emphasize abstinence, and include information about the advantages and disadvantages of contraception. Tennessee House Bill 374 and Senate Bill 595, both introduced in February 2005 and assigned to their respective Committees on Education, require the development of curriculum guidelines and the adoption of a curriculum about sexual violence and awareness by school districts. This curriculum would be part of the current “lifetime wellness curriculum.” The legislation encourages the development of sexual violence and awareness curriculum in conjunction with community-based organizations, including “abstinence education organizations.” The House Bill was introduced in February 2005, passed out of the Committee on Education, and currently resides in the House Committee on Finance, Ways, and Means. The Senate Bill passed and became law in June 2006. Bill Rewards Five Model Programs House Bill 1294 and Senate Bill 1011, both introduced in February 2005, designate up to five total model programs in numerous topic areas including family life education, prevention of teenage pregnancy, and counseling services for teenagers who are, or think they might be, pregnant to receive funding in recognition of their work. The House Bill was referred to the House Committee on Health and Human Resources, passed out of the Committee on Education, and currently resides in the House Committee on Finance, Ways, and Means. The Senate Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on General Welfare, Health, and Human Resource and has passed out of the Committee. Legislation Requires Review of Family Life Curricula House Bill 3819 and Senate Bill 3472 require the Comptroller's Office of Education to review the effectiveness of family life curricula and submit a written report to Senate and House committees with oversight of education. The House Bill became law in May 2006 and the Senate Bill was substituted in its place. Texas Utah Vermont Virginia House Bill 163, introduced in January 2006 and referred to the House Committee on Education, states that all parents or guardians have the right to review all family life education curricula, regardless of whether the curricula is mandatory or optional. In addition, each school board that offers family life education has to develop a summary of the program to be distributed to parents. The bill died at the end of the session. Legislation Requires an Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Focus House Bill 164, introduced in January 2006, amends the state's existing family life education code to state that any “family life education course including a discussion of sexual intercourse shall emphasize that abstinence is the accepted norm and is the only guarantee against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.” All family life education courses have to include, “age appropriate subject matter; an emphasis on honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage; a discussion on the value of postponing sexual activity until marriage including the emotional and psychological consequences of adolescent sexual intercourse and unwanted pregnancy; information on the possible transmission of sexually transmitted diseases through protected and unprotected sexual intercourse; an overview of laws addressing (i) the financial responsibility of parents to children born out of wedlock and (ii) circumstances under which it is unlawful for unmarried persons to have sexual relations; and a dvice on avoiding unwanted sexual advances and resisting negative peer pressure.” The bill passed the House, but died in the Senate. Legislation Requires Survey of Family Life Education Senate Joint Resolution 171, introduced in January 2005, requires the Virginia Board of Education to complete a survey of family life education programs by November 30, 2006. “The survey of Family Life Education programs by the Board of Education shall include all aspects of the program, including but not limited to whether the local school division offers Family Life Education instruction, the curricula used by all school divisions, the content of instruction, the qualifications of Family Life Education teachers and teacher training, the number and percentage of children who opt-out each year, and parental and community involvement in the program.” The resolution passed the Senate and the House.
House Bill 1282 and Senate Bill 5306, both introduced in January 2005, require all school districts offering sexual health education to incorporate the Department of Health and Office of the Superintendent of Public School's guidelines for sexual health information into their instruction. The legislation states that this education must emphasize abstinence, but not to the exclusion of other methods of prevention, and that it must include “medically accurate information about the effectiveness of contraceptives and other family planning options in a comprehensive manner.” The Department of Health is charged with adopting rules to determine what defines “medically accurate.” The legislation also states that, “instruction and materials shall be age-appropriate and appropriate for use with students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds and students with disabilities.” In 2005, the House Bill passed out of the House, but must be revoted on in 2006 for procedural reasons and is therefore currently in the House Committee on Health Care. The Senate Bill remains in the Senate Committees on Health and Long-Term Care. “Truth in Describing Sex Education Act” Introduced House Bill 1656 and Senate Bill 5478, both introduced in January 2005, aim “to help parents clearly identify the type of education being taught, assist community committee members in selecting the best materials to comply with school district policy, and support teachers in complying with their school district policy.” Titled the Truth in Describing Sex Education Act, the bills provide the federal government's definition of “abstinence education” and mandate that all school districts must decide whether their sexuality education programs fit within that definition and are thus “abstinence education” or whether they “describe sexual behaviors not included in the definition” and are thus “comprehensive sex education” programs. The Senate Bill is in the Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12, and Higher Education and the House Bill is in the House Committee on Health Care. Two Pieces of Legislation Create Opt-In Policy House Bill 2139, introduced in February 2005 and referred to the House Committee on Education, requires written parental consent in order for a student to participate “in a class, assembly, lecture, or other setting in which information regarding sex education or sexual conduct is presented.” Parent permission would also be required before a student could participate in HIV/AIDS education. House Bill 3201, introduced in February 2006 and referred to the House Committee on Healthcare, requires parental consent in order for a student to participate in any instruction “relating to human sexuality.” H.B. 3201 outlines the detailed instruction for schools to give parents about such instruction and where schools may store sex education curriculum. It further provides for damages if a school does not follow these guidelines. Legislation Bans Teaching of Sexual Orientation Senate Bill 6876, introduced in January 2006 and referred to the Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12, and Higher Education, states that “the office of superintendent of public instruction shall not encourage or promote the teaching of sexual orientation.” The bill also criticizes materials published earlier by the office of the superintendent. Washington, DC West Virginia House Bill 2143 and Senate Bill 68 prohibit any person “employed by, compensated by, or providing any services for the State Board or any county board” from counseling, referring, transporting, or assisting a student with obtaining an abortion. Both bills were introduced in January 2006. The Senate Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Bill was referred to the House Committee on Health and Human Resources. Schools To Display Fetal Models House Bill 3124 requires fetal models to be displayed in every secondary and middle school for at least two one-month periods during the school year. If a school does not comply, they can be fined not less three hundred dollars for each day the models are not displayed. The bill was introduced in January 2006 and referred to the House Committee on Education. Legislation Allows Counseling of Students in Sex Education House Bill 3210, allows employees of the state board of education or county board to counsel a student in “basic sex education, societal expectations and roles of men and women, and birth control methods, including abstinence, medications, devices, and abortion,” upon the request of the student or when it appears to be in their best interest. This counseling must remain confidential. The bill was introduced in January 2006 and currently resides in the Committee on Education. Faith-Based, Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage, and Anti-Choice Facilities Would Have to Adhere to Standards House Bill 3298, introduced in January 2006 and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, requires faith-based, abstinence-only-until-marriage, and anti-choice facilities to give full information to “pregnant girls and women” regarding sex education, contraception, abortion, and other subjects. Wisconsin Assembly Bill 309 requires any school board that provides information in sexuality education to provide information on marriage and parental responsibility in the same course and in the same school year. The bill became law in April 2006. Senate Bill 286 requires sexuality education to present abstinence as the preferred behavior for all unmarried students and emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity until marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The bill became law in April 2006. Legislation Requires Parental Notification of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs Assembly Bill 691 and Senate Bill 339 require that any school that receives federal funding to provide abstinence-only-until-marriage programs must provide notice to the parents or guardians of pupils in these classes. The notification must state that their children will not receive “information about how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome, other than abstinence.” Both bills were introduced in September 2005 and failed to pass. Bill Focuses on Emergency Contraception and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs Assembly Bill 795, introduced in October 2005 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Health, requires that rape survivors have to access emergency contraception in emergency rooms and that pharmacists are required to dispense emergency contraception. The legislation states that pharmacists are to be fined if they do not dispense the medication. The bill also requires schools to notify parents and guardians if their school does not offer “human growth and development instruction” and/or if they receive federal funding for abstinence-only programs. Notification about abstinence-only-until-marriage programs must state that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs teach no other methods of pregnancy or STD prevention aside from abstinence. The notice must also state that students can be excused from these classes without penalty. Wyoming SIECUS is not aware of any current legislation regarding sexuality education in Wyoming.
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