Code Section Group

Health and Safety Code - HSC


DIVISION 120. SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT [151000 - 151003]
  ( Division 120 added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 602, Sec. 1. )

151000.
  

This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Sexual Health Education Accountability Act.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 602, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)

151001.
  

For purposes of this division, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Age appropriate” means topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

(b) A “sexual health education program” means a program that provides instruction or information to prevent adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy, or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, that is conducted, operated, or administered by any state agency, is funded directly or indirectly by the state, or receives any financial assistance from state funds or funds administered by a state agency, but does not include any program offered by a school district, a county superintendent of schools, or a community college district.

(c) “Medically accurate” means verified or supported by research conducted in compliance with scientific methods and published in peer review journals, when appropriate, and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant field, including, but not limited to, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Public Health Association, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 632, Sec. 12. (AB 1622) Effective January 1, 2020.)

151002.
  

(a) Every sexual health education program shall satisfy all of the following requirements:

(1) All information shall be medically accurate, current, and objective.

(2) Individuals providing instruction or information shall know and use the most current scientific data on human sexuality, human development, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.

(3) The program content shall be age appropriate for its targeted population.

(4) The program shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate for its targeted populations.

(5) The program shall not teach or promote religious doctrine.

(6)  The program shall not reflect or promote bias against any person on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, as defined in Section 422.56 of the Penal Code.

(7) The program shall provide information about the effectiveness and safety of at least one or more drug or device approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for preventing pregnancy and for reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

(b) A sexual health education program that is directed at minors shall comply with all of the criteria in subdivision (a) and shall also comply with both the following requirements:

(1) It shall include information that the only certain way to prevent pregnancy is to abstain from sexual intercourse, and that the only certain way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from activities that have been proven to transmit sexually transmitted diseases.

(2) If the program is directed toward minors under the age of 12 years, it may, but is not required to, include information otherwise required pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a).

(c) A sexual health education program conducted by an outside agency at a publicly funded school shall comply with the requirements of Section 51934 of the Education Code if the program addresses HIV/AIDS and shall comply with Section 51933 of the Education Code if the program addresses pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS.

(d) An applicant for funds to administer a sexual health education program shall attest in writing that its program complies with all conditions of funding, including those enumerated in this section. A publicly funded school receiving only general funds to provide comprehensive sexual health instruction or HIV/AIDS prevention instruction shall not be deemed an applicant for the purposes of this subdivision.

(e) If the program is conducted by an outside agency at a publicly funded school, the applicant shall indicate in writing how the program fits in with the school’s plan to comply fully with the requirements of the California Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act, Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 51930) of the Education Code. Notwithstanding Section 47610 of the Education Code, “publicly funded school” includes a charter school for the purposes of this subdivision.

(f) Monitoring of compliance with this division shall be integrated into the grant monitoring and compliance procedures. If the agency knows that a grantee is not in compliance with this section, the agency shall terminate the contract or take other appropriate action.

(g) This section shall not be construed to limit the requirements of the California Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act (Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 51930) of Part 28 of the Education Code).

(h) This section shall not apply to one-on-one interactions between a health practitioner and his or her patient in a clinical setting.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 602, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)

151003.
  

This division shall apply only to grants that are funded pursuant to contracts entered into or amended on or after January 1, 2008.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 602, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)

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