Minnesota Legislative Committee Approves Sex Education Measure

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 03 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Minnesota Legislature's Health, Housing and Family Security Committee last week approved by voice vote a measure that would increase funding for sex education initiatives and sexually transmitted infection testing with the aim of curbing recent increases in STI and teenage pregnancy rates, the Minnesota Independent reports. According to the Independent, the proposed bill (S. 273) includes language from a 2008 Comprehensive Family Life and Sexuality Education bill (S. 588) that would have mandated a baseline for sex education in Minnesota public schools. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) during negotiations for last year's bill asked lawmakers to work out details of the bill with the conservative group Minnesota Family Council. The bill was later withdrawn during committee proceedings. The new bill, sponsored by state Sens. John Marty (D) and Sandy Rummel (D), also would allocate funds for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing through family planning special project grants. According to the Independent, Pawlenty has proposed cutting similar grants from the state budget. Marty said that he is doubtful the measure will pass because of Minnesota's current budget deficits and Pawlenty's ties to conservative Christian groups. However, "[w]e can't afford not to make the expenditure," he said.

Experts at the committee hearing testified that Minnesota's current sex education programs are "patchwork," with some schools using abstinence-only teaching methods that numerous studies have shown to be ineffective, the Independent reports. Deb Wilkens-Costello of the St. Paul's Family Tree Clinic said a consistent sex education curriculum could help reduce teen pregnancy rates and therefore save Minnesota money "for years to come" in reduced Medicare and welfare costs. This year's version of the bill also aims to provide targeted resources to the communities with the highest STI rates. According to Peter Carr, head of the STI and HIV Program at the state Department of Health, underserved and minority communities -- which have higher STI rates than whites -- are most in need of such services (Birkey, Minnesota Independent, 1/29).

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