Neb. Legislature Rejects Provision Barring School Clinics Providing Contraceptives From Funding

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 15 Apr 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Nebraska lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill (LB 469) allowing school-based health clinics to request state funding after rejecting an amendment that would have barred the clinics from using the funding for contraceptive services, the AP/Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan reports. According to the AP/Press & Dakotan, debate on the bill often "trail[ed] off" to topics such as abortion and free speech. The debate took place despite the fact that the only eligible clinic is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and has no plans to address contraception either through education or services, the AP/Press & Dakotan reports.

Sen. Tony Fulton, who introduced the amendment, said, "I'm not opposed to the birds and the bees," adding, "You can still teach about human sexuality ... I'm talking about contraception services. I'm saying you shouldn't use state funds to do that." Sen. Tom White said Fulton's amendment was "self-defeating" and could lead to more unintended pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted infections that could otherwise be prevented with knowledge of contraception.

Sen. Philip Erdman said that if the bill is passed, the Legislature could still deny funding for any future school-based clinics that wants to provide contraception services. Under the measure, schools would be able to apply for funding that comes from a 1998 settlement between states and tobacco companies (Jenkins, AP/Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, 4/10).

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