HB 1282-S.E - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/04/05)

Declares that the state has a duty to ensure that young people are equipped with the comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate information that they need to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. The best approach to protecting youth in this environment is to support the resources that they trust and to ensure that young people have as much accurate, objective information about sexual health as possible.

Provides that, by September 1, 2006, every school district that offers sexual health education must assure that sexual health education is consistent with the January 2005 guidelines for sexual health information and disease prevention of the department of health and the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Every school district that offers sexual health education must emphasize abstinence, as required by RCW 70.24.210, except that abstinence may not be taught to the exclusion of other methods of preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.