Hawaii House Committee Passes Bills To Reject Title V Funding, Require Comprehensive Sex Education

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 16 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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The Hawaii House Committee on Education on Wednesday passed two sex education-related bills (H.B. 329, H.B. 330), the Honolulu Advertiser reports. One bill would reject federal funding for abstinence-only education programs, while the second measure would require any agency using state funds for sex education to use a comprehensive sex education curriculum that includes information on how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

According to the Advertiser, Hawaii would join 25 other states that have rejected federal funding for abstinence-only education programs, or Title V funding. The state's public school system already does not accept Title V funding and teaches comprehensive sex education; however, the Department of Health accepts about $161,000 in Title V funding.

The state's Department of Education supports both bills. The bills' supporters say the measures send a message that the state promotes a "medically accurate" approach to sex education, the Advertiser reports. Sonia Blackiston, director of education and training for Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, said many studies have found abstinence-only education is "ineffective" and "does not delay sexual activity." She added that there is a "huge lack of education" among teens.

Opponents of the measures have said abstinence is the most effective way to prevent pregnancies and STIs. Danny Morishige -- director of the Try Wait! Program at Catholic Charities of Hawaii, which has provided abstinence-only education to more than 10,000 public and private schools -- said the bills are sending a message that "abstinence-only education is not effective." He added that there is "ongoing research that is showing that there are abstinence programs that are effective." The state health department also opposes the bills, saying they would result in a loss of funding for abstinence-only programs for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii (Moreno, Honolulu Advertiser, 2/12).

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