SEX EDUCATION: State Senate Committee Requires ‘Medically Accurate’ Curricula

      The California State Senate Education Committee last week approved on a 9-1 vote legislation that would require schools to use medically accurate information -- free of racial and gender bias -- in their sex education curricula. Katherine Kneer, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, which sponsored the legislation, said, "We are very pleased that the Senate Health Committee voted in favor of this responsible sexuality education legislation which assures parents that their child will receive honest, medically accurate information that supports abstinence and helps young people make responsible health decisions." She said some California school districts had presented "fear-based sex curricula that endangers young people." AB 246, authored by Assemblymen Jim Cunneen (R-Campbell) and Mike Honda (D-San Jose), comes on the heels of a Field Institute Survey conducted in April that found 88% of California adults support the provision of age-appropriate sex education in schools, and 94% support curricula that includes information on contraception. While current law requires that schools offering sex education courses teach that abstinence is the only foolproof prevention against pregnancy and STDs, it lacks standards for the information provided. The bill now heads to the Senate for a full vote (PPAC release, 6/23).