H-3409.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2546
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By Representatives Haigh, Santos, McDermott, Woods, Hankins,
Upthegrove, Mitchell, Ballasiotes, Delvin, Rockefeller, Jarrett, Lantz,
McIntire, Kenney, Romero, Conway, Dickerson, Wood, Kagi, Ruderman,
Hunt, Cody, Dunshee, Chase, Ogden, Edwards, Veloria, Schual-Berke,
Jackley and Skinner
Read first time 01/21/2002. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to medically accurate sexuality education programs;
amending RCW 70.190.085 and 74.12.410; and adding a new section to
chapter 28A.150 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter28A.150 RCW to read as follows:
(1) All public schools that provide sexuality or abstinence
education shall provide only medically and scientifically accurate
information.
(2) As used in this section, "medically and scientifically accurate
information" means information that is:
(a) Supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance
with accepted scientific methods;
(b) Recognized as accurate and objective by leading professional
organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field, such
as the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists or the
centers for disease control; and
(c) Published in peer-reviewed journals, where appropriate.
Sec. 2. RCW 70.190.085 and 1994 c 299 s 5 are each amended to read
as follows:
{+ (1) +} The community network's plan may include funding for astudent designed media and community campaign promoting sexual
abstinence and addressing the importance of delaying sexual activity
and pregnancy or male parenting until individuals are ready to nurture
and support their children. Under the campaign, which shall be
substantially designed and produced by students, the same messages
shall be distributed in schools, through the media, and in the
community where the campaign is targeted. The campaign shall require
local private sector matching funds equal to state funds. Local
private sector funds may include in-kind contributions of technical or
other assistance from consultants or firms involved in public
relations, advertising, broadcasting, and graphics or video production
or other related fields. The campaign shall be evaluated using the
outcomes required of community networks under this chapter, in
particular reductions in the number or rate of teen pregnancies and
teen male parentage over a three to five year period.
{+ (2) Any family planning information that is provided under thissection and includes sexuality or abstinence education shall provide
only medically and scientifically accurate information. As used in
this section, "medically and scientifically accurate information" means
information that is:
(a) Supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance
with accepted scientific methods;
(b) Recognized as accurate and objective by leading professional
organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field, such
as the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists or the
centers for disease control; and
(c) Published in peer-reviewed journals, where appropriate. +}
Sec. 3. RCW 74.12.410 and 1997 c 58 s 601 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1){+ (a) +} At time of application or reassessment under thischapter the department shall offer or contract for family planning
information and assistance, including alternatives to abortion, and any
other available locally based teen pregnancy prevention programs, to
prospective and current recipients of aid to families with dependent
children.
{+ (b) Any plan that includes funding for a community campaignpromoting sexual abstinence that is provided under this section shall
provide only medically and scientifically accurate information. As
used in this section, "medically and scientifically accurate
information" means information that is:
(i) Supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance
with accepted scientific methods;
(ii) Recognized as accurate and objective by leading professional
organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field, such
as the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists or the
centers for disease control; and
(iii) Published in peer-reviewed journals, where appropriate. +}
(2) The department shall work in cooperation with the
superintendent of public instruction to reduce the rate of illegitimate
births and abortions in Washington state.
(3) The department of health shall maximize federal funding by
timely application for federal funds available under P.L. 104-193 and
Title V of the federal social security act, 42 U.S.C. 701 et seq., as
amended, for the establishment of qualifying abstinence education and
motivation programs. The department of health shall contract, by
competitive bid, with entities qualified to provide abstinence
education and motivation programs in the state.
(4) The department of health shall seek and accept local matching
funds to the maximum extent allowable from qualified abstinence
education and motivation programs.
(5)(a) For purposes of this section, "qualifying abstinence
education and motivation programs" are those bidders with experience in
the conduct of the types of abstinence education and motivation
programs set forth in Title V of the federal social security act, 42
U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq., as amended.
(b) The application for federal funds, contracting for abstinence
education and motivation programs and performance of contracts under
this section are subject to review and oversight by a joint committee
of the legislature, composed of four legislative members, appointed by
each of the two caucuses in each house.
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