OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5591

AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTHY TEENS.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the State Board of Education to expand its family life education curriculum guides for school districts to cover ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. By law, the guides must already cover family planning (but not abortion as an alternative); human sexuality; parenting; nutrition; and the emotional, physical, psychological, hygienic, economic, and social aspects of family life.

The bill also requires the State Department of Education, within available appropriations, to establish a Healthy Teens grant program to help school districts implement the guides. Districts must use the grants to (1) develop, review, and approve medically accurate health education that implements the guides; (2) develop, review, and approve professional development for staff teaching the district's family life education curriculum; and (3) offer appropriate training in parent-child communication to teachers, parents, and guardians. It allows local and regional boards of education to apply for the grants as the education commissioner prescribes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2008

COMMITTEE ACTION

Education Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute