Bill Text: HI HB1697 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1697 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Sexual Health Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-11 - Referred to EDU/HTH, WAM. [HB1697 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1697-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1697
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that existing sexual education standards within secondary schools in the State are not providing students with the knowledge and tools necessary to make responsible, informed, and empowered choices about their sexuality, gender, relationships, and sexual and reproductive health.

The legislature further finds that the current emphasis on abstinence and problem-focused language offered in Hawaii schools can contribute to ongoing stigmatization of sexual health topics. Comprehensive sex education that covers forms of sexual expression, healthy sexual and non-sexual relationships, diverse identities across gender and culture, sexual orientation, and consent is vital to ensuring that students feel safe and empowered to learn, ask questions, and make positive choices for themselves. For the foregoing reasons, a broader, more comprehensive sex education program should be provided to secondary school students. Providing this type of comprehensive sex education program was the top priority for student participants in the 2021 Hawaii Children and Youth Summit.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the department of education to provide comprehensive training for teachers and educational officers on sexual health topics that include positive and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientations and gender identities, persons of color, and disability communities to destigmatize and promote sexual health; and

(2) Require sexual health education programs to include similar sexual health topics to destigmatize and promote sexual health.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Sexual health education; training. (a) The department shall offer comprehensive training for teachers and educational officers on sexual health topics that include positive and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientations and gender identities, persons of color, and disability communities to destigmatize and promote sexual health.

(b) The department may coordinate and contract with any state or county department or agency or any other expert in the field of sexual health education and response to implement this section."

SECTION 3. Section 321-11.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Sexuality health education programs funded by the State shall [~~provide~~]:

(1) Provide medically accurate and factual information that is age appropriate and includes education on abstinence, contraception, and methods of disease prevention to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, including human immunodeficiency virus[.]; and

(2) Include sexual health topics that include positive and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientations and gender identities, persons of color, and disability communities to destigmatize and promote sexual health."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Sexual Health; Training; Education

Description:

Requires DOE to provide comprehensive training for teachers and educational officers on sexual health topics that include positive and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientations and gender identities, persons of color, and disability communities to destigmatize and promote sexual health. Requires sexual health education programs to include similar sexual health topics to destigmatize and promote sexual health. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.