H. B. 2907
(By Delegates Fleischauer, Amores, Doyle,
Manuel, Webster, Hatfield and Brown)
[Introduced February 7, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Education.]
A BILL to amend chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article two-j, relating to
the "Responsible Sexuality Education in Schools Act."
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding
thereto a new article, designated article two-j, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 2J. RESPONSIBLE SEXUALITY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS ACT.
§18-2J-1. Short title.
This article shall be called the "Responsible Sexuality
Education in Schools Act."
§18-2J-2. Findings and purpose.
(a) The Legislature finds that:
(1) Effective sexuality education programs discussing condoms
and contraception help delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce
the frequency of sex, and reduce the number of sex partners.
(2) Abstinence-only programs in schools do not delay the
initiation of sex or reduce its frequency.
(3) It is essential for the health and safety of young people
that they receive medically and factually accurate and objective
information about sexuality, pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases.
(b) This law is enacted to protect the health and safety of
young people and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted
disease in the state.
§18-2J-3. Requiring responsible sexuality education in schools.
(a) As used in this article, the term "medically accurate"
means:
(1) Information supported by the weight of research conducted
in compliance with accepted scientific methods.
(2) Information 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.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in
subsection (b), section nine, article two of this chapter, the
state board of education shall adopt rules requiring all high schools and middle schools to teach appropriate, comprehensive and
religiously neutral sexuality education, including education on
both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy
and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
(2) All sexuality education courses taught in schools must
provide medically accurate information.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require responsible
sexuality education to be taught in middle and high schools in West
Virginia.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.
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