Text of AL HB 444 (2012)

1 HB444 2 137833-1 3 By Representative Todd 4 RFD: Education Policy 5 First Read: 28-FEB-12 Page 0 1 137833-1:n:02/23/2012:KMS/tj LRS2012-1314 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, there are certain 9 minimum contents which are included in a sex 10 education program or curriculum. 11 This bill would remove from the minimum 12 contents the emphasis that homosexuality is not an 13 acceptable lifestyle and the emphasis that 14 homosexual conduct is a criminal offense. 15 16 A BILL 17 TO BE ENTITLED 18 AN ACT 19 20 To amend Section 16-40A-2, Code of Alabama 1975, 21 relating to the minimum contents which are included in a sex 22 education program or curriculum, to remove from the minimum 23 contents the emphasis that homosexuality is not an acceptable 24 lifestyle and the emphasis that homosexual conduct is a 25 criminal offense. 26 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Page 1 1 Section 1. Section 16-40A-2, Code of Alabama 1975, 2 is amended to read as follows: 3 "§16-40A-2. 4 "(a) Any program or curriculum in the public schools 5 in Alabama that includes sex education or the human 6 reproductive process shall, as a minimum, include and 7 emphasize the following: 8 "(1) Abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only 9 completely effective protection against unwanted pregnancy, 10 sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency 11 syndrome (AIDS) when transmitted sexually. 12 "(2) Abstinence from sexual intercourse outside of 13 lawful marriage is the expected social standard for unmarried 14 school-age persons. 15 "(b) Course materials and instruction that relate to 16 sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should be 17 age-appropriate. 18 "(c) Course materials and instruction that relate to 19 sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should 20 include all of the following elements: 21 "(1) An emphasis on sexual abstinence as the only 22 completely reliable method of avoiding unwanted teenage 23 pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. 24 "(2) An emphasis on the importance of self-control 25 and ethical conduct pertaining to sexual behavior. 26 "(3) Statistics based on the latest medical 27 information that indicate the degree of reliability and Page 2 1 unreliability of various forms of contraception, while also 2 emphasizing the increase in protection against pregnancy and 3 protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including 4 HIV and AIDS infection, which is afforded by the use of 5 various contraceptive measures. 6 "(4) Information concerning the laws relating to the 7 financial responsibilities associated with pregnancy, 8 childbirth, and child rearing. 9 "(5) Information concerning the laws prohibiting 10 sexual abuse, the need to report such abuse, and the legal 11 options available to victims of sexual abuse. 12 "(6) Information on how to cope with and rebuff 13 unwanted physical and verbal sexual exploitation by other 14 persons. 15 "(7) Psychologically sound methods of resisting 16 unwanted peer pressure. 17 "(8) An emphasis, in a factual manner and from a 18 public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a 19 lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual 20 conduct is a criminal offense under the laws of the state. 21 "(9) (8) Comprehensive instruction in parenting 22 skills and responsibilities, including the responsibility to 23 pay child support by non-custodial parents, the penalties for 24 non-payment of child support, and the legal and ethical 25 responsibilities of child care and child rearing." Page 3 1 Section 2. This act shall become effective 2 immediately following its passage and approval by the 3 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law. Page 4