AN ACT Relating to education in the common schools on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; amending RCW 28A.05.010; adding a new section to chapter 28A.05 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.05 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention education shall be taught in the public schools of this state. AIDS prevention education shall be limited to the discussion of the disease AIDS and its spread and prevention. Students shall receive such education:

(a) At the option of the local school district, at least once during the fifth or sixth grades;

(b) At least once during the seventh, eighth, or ninth grades; and

(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop curriculum and materials for AIDS prevention education in conjunction with the department of social and health services. A school district may also develop its own AIDS prevention education curriculum and materials. Any curriculum and materials developed for use in the public schools shall be approved for medical accuracy by the department of social and health services. A school district may use any curriculum and materials which have been developed and approved under this subsection.

(3) School districts shall make the curriculum and materials that will be used to teach AIDS prevention education available for inspection by the parents and guardians of the students that will be involved with the curriculum and materials. Furthermore, the curriculum shall only deal with factual medical information for AIDS prevention. The school districts, at least one month before teaching AIDS prevention education in any classroom, shall conduct for the parents and guardians of the students involved during weekend and evening hours at least one presentation concerning the curriculum and materials that will be used for such education. A student shall be required to participate in AIDS prevention education unless a parent or guardian of the student, having attended one of the presentations, objects in writing to such participation.

(4) The curriculum for AIDS prevention education shall be designed to teach students which behaviors place a person at risk of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and methods to avoid such risk including, at least:

(a) Avoiding the use of unsterilized hypodermic needles, such as occurs in drug abuse; and

(b) Avoiding sexual intercourse, with or without condoms, with any person testing positive for HIV antibodies, or any other person infected with HIV.

(5) The program of AIDS prevention education shall teach that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only certain means for the prevention of the spread or contraction of the AIDS virus through sexual contact. It shall also teach that artificial means of birth control are not a certain means of preventing the spread of the AIDS virus and reliance on such methods puts a person at risk for exposure to the disease.

(6) The office of the superintendent of public instruction with the assistance of the department of social and health services shall update AIDS education curriculum material as newly discovered medical facts make it necessary.

Sec. 2. Section 28A.05.010, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 232, Laws of 1987 and RCW 28A.05.010 are each amended to read as follows:

All common schools shall give instruction in reading, penmanship, orthography, written and mental arithmetic, geography, the history of the United States, English grammar, physiology and hygiene with special reference to the effects of alcoholic stimulants and narcotics on the human system, science with special reference to the environment, and such other studies as may be prescribed by rule or regulation of the state board of education. All teachers shall stress the importance of the cultivation of manners, the fundamental principles of honesty, honor, industry and economy, the minimum requisites for good health including the beneficial effect of physical exercise and methods to prevent infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the worth of kindness to all living creatures and the land. The prevention of child abuse may be offered as part of the curriculum in the common schools.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1988.