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 chapter 28A.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 a student 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 this section 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 this chapter 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 campaign promoting 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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