Washington State House Health Care and Wellness Committee Approves Healthy Youth Act
OLYMPIA, WA – Today The House Health Care Committee approved Engrossed Substitute Bill 5297, the Healthy Youth Act. Eight members of the Committee voted for the bill (Cody D-34; Morrell D-25; Barlow D-6; Green D-28; Moeller D-49; Pedersen D-43; Schual-Berke D-33; Seaquist D-26), and 5 members opposed it (Hinkle R-13; Alexander R-20; Campbell R-2; Condotta R-12; Curtis R-18). The bill creates standards for sex education taught in Washington public schools. These standards require that sexual health curricula be medically accurate and adhere to guidelines put forth by the Washington State Dept. of Health and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bill will now be sent to the House Rules Committee, after which it will be eligible for the House Floor Calendar. “This is an important step towards ensuring that our teens receive real, accurate sex education, which helps teens avoid unwanted pregnancy and can reduce the need for abortion,” said Karen Cooper, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. “Abstinence will not be removed from the curriculum, but most people do decide to have sex at some point in their lives, and reliable information about contraception and sexual health allows people to plan their families throughout their lives.” “Parents and teaches across the state have voiced support for these new guidelines, angered over the amount of misinformation students often receive during sex education courses,” Cooper said, “NARAL Pro-Choice Washington will continue to mobilize its members in support of this legislation until the bill is signed into effect by the Governor. ###
| 
