Utah Lawmaker Proposes Changes To State Sex Education Law

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 31 Aug 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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In Utah on Wednesday, the Planned Parenthood Action Council hosted a meeting for state lawmakers and local residents to discuss proposed revisions to the state's sex education law, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. During the meeting, state Rep. Lynn Hemingway (D) presented a draft bill that would require school districts to offer two tracks of sex education: one that would teach abstinence-only sex education and another that emphasizes abstinence and includes discussion of sexually transmitted infections and contraception. The second track would require parental permission.

Current Utah law permits teachers to instruct about contraceptives and STIs. Districts are permitted to teach less than the law requires, but they are not allowed to teach more. Hemingway said the current law is ineffective because although teachers are allowed to discuss contraceptives, they cannot encourage their use -- leading many instructors to avoid the topic out of fear. Hemingway said that revising the law is a "health issue" because of rising rates of teenage pregnancy and STIs in Utah.

Hemingway said, "I want to be sure parents can be certain if they want abstinence only education, their children can get it." She added, "I also want to be certain that if parents want to get a little more detail in their children's education, they can do that." She plans to make revisions and hold more community discussions before introducing the bill in the state Legislature (Schencker, Salt Lake Tribune, 8/26).

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