HLS 15RS-69 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 69
BY REPRESENTATIVES CARMODY AND W ESLEY BISHOP
SEX EDUCATION: Directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and
the Department of Health and Hospitals to report on the effectiveness of abstinence-
emphasis sex education
1 A RESOLUTION
2To direct the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of
3 Health and Hospitals to study and evaluate the effectiveness of the abstinence-
4 emphasis sex education curriculum used in public schools throughout the state on
5 limiting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and decreasing the rates of teen
6 pregnancy, and to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the
7 House of Representatives.
8 WHEREAS, according to the office of public health of the Department of Health and
9Hospitals, Louisiana's rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, are
10among the highest in the nation, and Louisiana also has very high teen pregnancy rates; and
11 WHEREAS, education is key in reducing rates of sexually transmitted diseases and
12teen pregnancy, thus building stronger families and a healthier future for Louisiana; and
13 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:281 authorizes any public elementary or secondary school in
14Louisiana to offer instruction in sex education, and each city, parish, and other local public
15school system may select its own sex education curriculum; and
16 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:281(A)(4) specifically requires the major emphasis of any sex
17education instruction offered in the public schools of this state to be the encouragement of
18sexual abstinence between unmarried persons; and
19 WHEREAS, R.S. 46:2552 requires the state superintendent of education, the
20secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, and the secretary of the
21Department of Health and Hospitals to meet together not less than twice annually to review
Page 1 of 3 HLS 15RS-69 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 69
1and evaluate the effectiveness of current state programs, including but not limited to sex
2education provided by public schools, aimed at reducing the rate of teen pregnancy and
3preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among the youth of
4Louisiana; and
5 WHEREAS, in order to fulfill the state's constitutional duty of affording every person
6an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential, it is imperative that the sex education
7curriculum provided throughout the state receive a thorough evaluation so that
8determinations can be made as to how the state can best provide experiences and
9opportunities to students that help them succeed in all aspects of life.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
11Legislature of Louisiana does hereby direct the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
12Education and the Department of Health and Hospitals to study and evaluate the
13effectiveness of the sex education curriculum used in public schools throughout the state on
14limiting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and decreasing the rates of teen
15pregnancy, and to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House of
16Representatives not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2016 Regular Session
17of the Legislature of Louisiana.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include, at a minimum, all of the
19following information:
20 (1) The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy for
21each parish in the state for the previous twenty years.
22 (2) The date of when the "abstinence only" sexual education curriculum policy was
23adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the date it was
24officially implemented in public schools.
25 (3) An evaluation of the true effect of the "abstinence only" curriculum on the
26overall health of Louisiana school-aged youth and young adults.
27 (4) A plan of action to increase the effectiveness of the sex education curriculum
28used in this state including policy and administrative changes that can be implemented
29immediately as well as recommendations for necessary legislation.
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HR NO. 69
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
2to the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the secretary
3of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 69 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Carmody
Directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of
Health and Hospitals to study and evaluate the effectiveness of the sex education curriculum
used in public schools throughout the state on limiting the spread of sexually transmitted
diseases and decreasing the rates of teen pregnancy, and to submit a written report of
findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives not later than 60 days prior
to the beginning of the 2016 R.S.
Page 3 of 3