HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	856
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
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 law is to be mandatory and shall 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) Includes mandatory 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.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Sexual Abuse; Sexual Assault; Comprehensive Sex Education

Description:

Establishes additional mandatory elements to Hawaii's existing sexuality health education law to include general knowledge about sexual abuse and sexual assault, and the prevention, identification, safety resources, and health resources for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.