View Daily Data Tracking History
View Bill Text
View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact
HCR057.........................................................by EDUCATION
CHARACTER-BASED SEX EDUCATION - Stating findings of the Legislature and
encouraging the promotion of moral development through character-based sex
education.
02/22 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/25 Rpt prt - to Educ
02/27 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/28 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/04 3rd rdg - ADOPTED - 57-0-13
AYES -- Aikele, Barraclough, Barrett, Bedke, Bell, Bieter, Block,
Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Collins, Cuddy,
Deal, Denney, Ellis, Eskridge, Field(13), Field(20), Gould, Hadley,
Hammond, Harwood, Higgins, Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Kellogg(Duncan),
Kendell, Lake, Langford, Loertscher, Martinez, McKague, Meyer,
Mortensen, Pearce, Pischner, Pomeroy, Raybould, Ridinger, Robison,
Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Shepherd, Smith(33), Smylie, Stevenson,
Stone, Tilman, Trail, Wood, Young, Mr. Speaker
NAYS -- None
Absent and excused -- Black, Clark, Crow, Ellsworth, Gagner, Henbest,
Kunz, Mader, Montgomery, Moyle, Roberts, Smith(23), Wheeler
Floor Sponsors - Mortensen & Aikele
Title apvd - to Senate
03/05 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Educ
03/11 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
03/12 10th ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Title apvd - to House
03/12 To enrol
03/13 Rpt enrol - Sp signed
Pres signed
03/14 To Secretary of State
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2002
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 57
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 PROMOTING MORAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SEX EDUCATION.
3 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
4 WHEREAS, Idaho's Constitution charges the Legislature to "further all wise
5 and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality"; and
6 WHEREAS, the primary responsibility for moral education rests in the home,
7 but under Section 33-1608, Idaho Code, schools have the responsibility to
8 "complement and supplement" the standards established in the home; and
9 WHEREAS, the specifics in this Resolution, relative to the year 2002, com-
10 plement and supplement the general guidelines in teaching human sexuality,
11 enacted in the year 1970, under Sections 33-1608 through 33-1611, Idaho Code.
12 WHEREAS, the twin epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and
13 nonmarital pregnancy cause enormous physical and emotional suffering, and cost
14 many billions of dollars each year, as evidenced by the following:
15 (a) About 840,000 teens in America become pregnant each year. One-third end
16 in abortion. Over three out of four teen births are out of wedlock;
17 (b) Seven out of ten adolescent mothers drop out of high school;
18 (c) Children in single family homes are twice as likely to drop out of high
19 school, and 2.5 times more likely to become unwed parents;
20 (d) Over 80% of single mothers under 18 rely on welfare assistance;
21 (e) Each day an estimated 8,000 U.S. teens contract an STD infection;
22 (f) Of all Americans over 12, about 20% are infected with genital herpes;
23 (g) Today, there are over 20 significantly prevalent STDs. In the 1960s syph-
24 ilis and gonorrhea, both easily treated with penicillin, were the only impor-
25 tant STDs;
26 (h) If a college student is sexually active, there is a 25% likelihood each
27 year, of that person contracting an STD; and
28 WHEREAS, on July 20, 2001, the National Institute of Health reported that
29 the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes over 95% of cervical cancer and kills
30 about 5,000 women every year in the U.S. (more than does AIDS), and that there
31 does not appear to be any risk reduction for HPV with the use of condoms; and
32 WHEREAS, "A sex education course in which issues of right and wrong do not
33 occupy center stage is an evasion and irresponsibility."-William Bennett; and
34 WHEREAS, teens will take up the abstinence message if given a rallying
35 point relative to the greatest overall threat to their well-being.
36 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
37 sion of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and
38 the Senate concurring therein, that sex education in tax-supported public
39 schools, universities and colleges in Idaho shall promote moral development.
40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representa-
41 tives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to facilitate distribution
42 of this Resolution, and its Statement of Purpose, to all entities concerned
43 with tax-supported public schools, universities and colleges in Idaho.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 12105C3
This Resolution will assist the Idaho Legislature in
meeting its Constitutional charge under Section 24, Article III
of the Idaho Constitution to: "further all wise and well-
directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality."
Also it will assist the Legislature in its Constitutional duty
under Article IX, Section I, "to establish and maintain a
thorough system of public schools". This Resolution deals with a
vital dimension of that "thorough system"
Section 33-512 4., Idaho Code, states: "The Board of
Trustees for each school district shall have the powers and
duties to promote the morals and health of the pupils." One
simple, specific way local school board can meet this charge is
to request that their high school principals see that this
Resolution is included in an appropriate course of study. Also,
because: "The core problem facing our schools is a moral one.
All other problems derive from it." (Dr. William Kilpatrick,
Boston University, author of Why Johnny Can t Tell Right from
Wrong And What We Can Do About It).
"This Resolution complements and supplements Idaho Code
Section 33-1608 through 33-1611, enacted in 1970: "evaluating
the psychological, social, emotional and physical implications
of human sexuality in developing and maintaining a responsible,
healthy lifestyle."
The "enormous.. .emotional suffering" on line 13 of this
Resolution is almost an understatement when an adolescent and
their family face the reality of teen pregnancy or the life-
threatening diagnoses of HIV/AIDS, or one of over 20 other
current sexually transmitted diseases.
As evidenced in this Resolution, the most effective
sexuality education is designed to promote moral development.
FISCAL IMPACT
None. When we equip our teens to make better decisions for their
own health and that of others, we help reduce the enormous
health care costs associated with the twin epidemics of
adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Contact
Name: Representative Max Mortensen
Phone: 208-332-1000
Rep. Janet Aikele
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE HCR 57