Enacts the Healthy Teens Act which requires the commissioner to amend regulations to include medically accurate, age appropriate sexual education in secondary schools

3 Co-sponsors

• Velmanette Montgomery
• Craig M. Johnson
• Neil D. Breslin

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the Healthy Teens Act which requires the commissioner to amend regulations to include medically accurate, age appropriate sexual education in secondary schools

Purpose

Directs the commissioner to authorize age appropriate sexual education including methods to prevent sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy.

Summary of provisions

Creates a new subdivision 42 (a) of section 305 of education law to direct the commissioner to authorize age appropriate sexual education including methods to prevent sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. Additionally, it adds subdivision bin which the commissioner shall provide resources to school districts in the form of suggested curriculum for the implementation of these standards.

Justification

According to statistics provided by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, in New York State there were 56,420 teenage pregnancies in 2000. Teen pregnancy is closely linked to a host of other critical social issues - poverty and income, overall child well-being, responsible fatherhood, health issues, education, and child welfare. There are also substantial public costs associated with adolescent childbearing.

In addition, according to the Center for Disease Control, sexually-active adolescents 15 to 19 years age are at higher risk for acquiring STDs for a combination of behavioral, biological, and cultural reasons. Recent estimates suggest that while representing 25% of the ever sexually active population, 15 to 24 year-olds acquire nearly half of all new STDs.

These statistics indicate a need for comprehensive sexual education in all schools across the state. The establishment of the Healthy Teens Act would aim to reduce the incidences of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases through the establishment of age appropriate sexual education.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.