STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4370 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 14, 2023 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing medically accurate instruction regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The section heading of section 804 of the education law, as 2 amended by chapter 390 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdi- 3 vision 5-a is added to read as follows: 4 Health education regarding mental health, alcohol, drugs, tobacco 5 abuse [and], the prevention and detection of certain cancers, and 6 instruction concerning human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune 7 deficiency syndrome. 8 5-a. Instruction regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 9 acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), including but not limited to 10 medically accurate information concerning the nature of such diseases, 11 methods of transmission, and methods of prevention shall be provided in 12 all elementary and secondary schools. Any such course shall be taught by 13 teachers holding a certificate to teach health. 14 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08955-01-3