| Passed by the Senate April 20, 2009 YEAS 33 ________________________________________ President of the Senate Passed by the House April 9, 2009 YEAS 67 ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives | I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 5629 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. ________________________________________ Secretary | |
| Approved ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2009 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/27/09. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to programs for the prevention of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases; amending RCW 74.12.410; and adding a new section to chapter 70.54 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) To reduce unintended pregnancies, state agencies may apply for
sexual health education funding for programs that are medically and
scientifically accurate, including, but not limited to, programs on
abstinence, the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and the
prevention of unintended pregnancies. The state shall ensure that such
programs:
(a) Are evidence-based;
(b) Use state funds cost-effectively;
(c) Maximize the use of federal matching funds; and
(d) Are consistent with RCW 28A.300.475, the state's healthy youth
act, as existing on the effective date of this section.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Medically and scientifically accurate" has the same meaning as
in RCW 28A.300.475, as existing on the effective date of this section;
and
(b) "Evidence-based" means a program that uses practices proven to
the greatest extent possible through research in compliance with
scientific methods to be effective and beneficial for the target
population.
Sec. 2 RCW 74.12.410 and 1997 c 58 s 601 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) At the 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)) unintended pregnancy prevention
programs, to prospective and current recipients of ((aid to families
with dependent children)) temporary assistance for needy families.
(2) The department shall work in cooperation with the
superintendent of public instruction to reduce the rate of
((illegitimate births and)) abortions and unintended pregnancies 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.