BILL REQ. #:  H-3473.1 

Read first time 01/20/2004.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to truth in describing sex education; adding new sections to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   This act may be cited as the truth in describing sex education act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The legislature finds that section 912 of the welfare reform act of 1996 amends Title V of the social security act, that Washington state receives funding from Title V welfare, that section 510 defines abstinence education, and that entities promoting or teaching abstinence education must verify compliance as required by federal law. The legislature further finds that school districts and their community committee members are free to determine the type and content of sex education programs used in their district. The legislature intends by this act to help parents clearly identify the type of education being taught, assist community committee members in selecting the best materials to comply with school district policy, and support teachers in complying with their school district policy.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   School districts shall determine the type and content of their abstinence education or comprehensive sex education curriculum in accordance with the following:
     (1) "Abstinence education" means an educational or motivational program that:
     (a) Has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, psychological, and health gains realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
     (b) Teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children;
     (c) Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems;
     (d) Teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
     (e) Teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
     (f) Teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society;
     (g) Teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increase vulnerability to sexual advances; and
     (h) Teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.
     (2) "Comprehensive sex education" means any program for K-12 students that describes sexual behaviors not included in the definition of abstinence education.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   District committees and/or school boards will review their sex education program in accordance with the cycle of curriculum review provided by school district policy. A district must refer to programs dealing with sexuality as either abstinence education or comprehensive sex education in all communications to parents and within the district.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   If a district cannot decide on the definition for their program, the district shall inform the joint committee referred to in RCW 74.12.410(5)(b) which shall appoint a review committee of ten volunteers to review all materials and determine whether the program is abstinence education or comprehensive sex education. Five members of the review committee must be familiar with and have experience with abstinence education, and five members must be familiar with and have experience with comprehensive sex education.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Sections 2 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.230 RCW.