Bill Text: HI SCR32 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Board of Education; Department of Education; Sexuality Health Education

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-06 - Referred to EDU/HTH, JDL. [SCR32 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SCR32-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	32
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the board of education and department of education to adopt additional elements for its existing sexuality health education programs, MAKE the sexuality health education curricula available to the public, Allow parents to request that their children not receive sexuality health education, and establish minimum education and training requirements for sexuality health education teachers.

WHEREAS, under the Hawaii State Constitution, the State shall provide for the establishment, support, and control of a statewide system of public schools free from sectarian control, a state university, public libraries, and such other institutions as may be deemed desirable, including physical facilities therefor; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Board of Education is to promote excellence and equity in Hawaii's public schools and enable all students to meet their own unique and varied potentials; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Department of Education is to serve the community by developing the academic achievement, character, and social-emotional well-being of students to the fullest potential and to work with partners, families, and communities to ensure that all students reach their aspirations from early learning through college, career, and citizenship; and

WHEREAS, section 321-11.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires state-funded sexuality health education to be medically accurate and age appropriate, and include education on abstinence, contraception, and methods of disease and pregnancy prevention; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature to utilize all available information to determine how to ensure that the youth of Hawaii have the skills and tools necessary to make healthy and responsible decisions with regard to their sexual and reproductive health, through programs in the public school system or through other means; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Board of Education and Department of Education are requested to:

(1) Adopt additional elements for existing sexuality health education programs, including information that:

(A) Helps students develop relationships and communication skills to form healthy relationships that are based on mutual respect and affection and free from violence, coercion, and intimidation;

(B) Helps students develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and stress management to make healthy decisions about sexuality and relationships; and

(C) Encourages students to communicate with their parents, guardians, and other trusted adults about sexuality and intimate relations;

(2) Make the sexuality health education curricula available to the public;

(3) Allow parents to request that their children not receive sexuality health education; and

(4) Establish minimum education and training requirements for sexuality health education teachers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, and Director of Health.