HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

856

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to add elements concerning sexual abuse and sexual assault to Hawaii's existing sexuality health education law.  The teaching of this portion of the sexuality health education curriculum is to be permissive and may include general information and education on:

     (1)  Methods of preventing sexual abuse and sexual assault;

     (2)  Identification of the signs of sexual abuse and sexual assault;

     (3)  Available safety resources for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault; and

     (4)  Available health resources for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

     SECTION 2.  Section 321-11.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§321-11.1[]]  Medically accurate sexuality health education.  (a)  Sexuality health education programs funded by the State shall provide medically accurate and factual information that [is]:

     (1)  Is age appropriate [and includes];

     (2)  Includes education on abstinence, contraception, and methods of disease prevention to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, including human immunodeficiency virus[.]; and

     (3)  May include education on sexual abuse and sexual assault, methods of preventing sexual abuse and sexual assault, identification of the signs of sexual abuse and sexual assault, available safety resources for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault, and available health resources for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Age appropriate" means suitable to a particular age or age group based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for that age or age group.

     "Factual information" means medical, psychiatric, psychological, empirical, or statistical information that is verified or supported by research conducted by recognized medical, psychiatric, psychological, and public health professionals or organizations.

     "Medically accurate" means verified or supported by research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant field, such as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

     "Sexuality health education" means education in any medium regarding human development and sexuality, including education on pregnancy, family planning, [and] sexually transmitted diseases[.], and sexual abuse and sexual assault."

     SECTION 3.  The board of education shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations on the inclusion of education on sexual abuse and sexual assault in the sexuality health education curriculum, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.



 

Report Title:

Sexual Abuse; Sexual Assault; Comprehensive Sex Education

 

Description:

Authorizes the inclusion of education about sexual abuse and sexual assault, including prevention, identification, safety resources, and health resources for victims.  Requires the Board of Education to report to the Legislature prior to the regular session of 2019.  (HB856 HD1)

 

 

 

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