Wis. Sex Education Bill Advances; Requires Instruction On Contraception

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 06 Nov 2009 - 5:00 PST

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The Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill (AB 458) that would require schools that teach sex education to include instruction on contraception, the AP/Sheboygan Press reports. The measure would allow parents to review instructional materials and decide whether to have their child participate in the class. The instruction would be required to include the health benefits, side effects and proper use of contraception and other methods for preventing pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

Republicans blocked the Democrat-controlled Assembly from taking a final vote on the bill Tuesday, so a vote has been scheduled for Thursday, the AP/Press reports. Wisconsin would become the 16th state to require instruction on contraception in sex education if the bill is passed and signed into law, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Gov. Jim Doyle's (D) office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether the governor supports the bill, the AP/Press reports.

The bill is supported by Planned Parenthood, groups representing nurses and health departments, and the Wisconsin teacher's union. It has drawn opposition from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference and Wisconsin Right to Life, groups that oppose abortion rights and contraception education.

Current state law requires that schools offering sex education emphasize abstinence-until-marriage as the most effective way to avoid unintended pregnancy and STIs. Although the state does not require schools to teach sex education, 94% taught human sexuality and 88% taught pregnancy prevention classes to students in grades six through 12 in 2007, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. Wisconsin is one of 22 states requiring sex education curriculums that emphasize abstinence, according to Guttmacher (Bauer, AP/Sheboygan Press, 11/4).

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