BILL REQ. #: H-1512.1

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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1178
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State of Washington

58th Legislature

2003 Regular Session

By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Schual-Berke, Skinner, Cody, Hankins, Moeller, Chase, Darneille, Upthegrove, Hunt, McCoy, Grant, Cooper, Clibborn, Ruderman, Kenney, Wallace, Lantz, Hudgins, Pettigrew, Morrell, McDermott, Jarrett, Romero, Haigh, Hunter, Kagi, Conway and Simpson)

READ FIRST TIME 02/18/03.

AN ACT Relating to medically accurate information in sex education courses; adding a new section to chapter 70.54 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) It is essential for the health and safety of the young people of Washington state that they receive medically and factually accurate and objective information about sexuality, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases;
     (2) Effective sexuality education discussing condoms and contraception helps delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sex, and reduce the number of sexual partners; and
     (3) Medically accurate information in sex education has contributed to a recent decline in Washington state's teen pregnancy rate and can reduce human suffering and health care costs by minimizing sexually transmitted diseases.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) As used in this section, "medically accurate" means verified or supported by research conducted in compliance with scientific methods and published in peer-review journals, where appropriate, and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant field, including the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists, the department of health, or the centers for disease control and prevention.
     (2) In educational programs paid for in whole or in part with public funds for use in public schools or elsewhere, information given about sexual anatomy, sexual physiology, and reproductive health shall be medically accurate. Medically accurate sex education shall present information that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the most effective means to prevent unwanted teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and human immune deficiency virus when transmitted sexually. Sex education including abstinence only curriculum that provides students with information regarding failure and success rates of condoms and other contraceptives in preventing pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases shall provide medically accurate information on such rates.
     (3) School districts retain the discretion of selecting what curriculum to use so long as it is medically accurate.
     (4) All material and instruction in classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual intercourse shall be age appropriate.

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