PRINTER'S NO. 980
No. 877 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, HART, BOSCOLA, HOLL AND HELFRICK,
APRIL 28, 1999
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, APRIL 28, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
2 "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
3 executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
4 Executive Department thereof and the administrative
5 departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
6 including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
7 Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
8 authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
9 departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10 duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11 officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12 boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14 and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15 certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16 other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17 and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
18 number and compensation of the deputies and all other
19 assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
20 commissions shall be determined," providing for abstinence
21 program.
22 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
23 hereby enacts as follows:
24 Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
25 as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
26 section to read:
27 Section 2126. Abstinence Programs.--(a) The Department of
1 Health shall have the power, and its duty shall be, to promote
2 chastity education as part of a comprehensive abstinence program
3 for teenagers. In addition to chastity education, a
4 comprehensive abstinence program shall include instruction about
5 the advantages of abstinence from drugs and alcohol. The
6 department shall promote the presentation of abstinence programs
7 to teenagers through programs in schools, youth centers and
8 other forums. The department's outreach activities shall focus
9 on those groups which are most likely to bear children out of
10 wedlock. Abstinence programs shall include meetings with parents
11 to encourage discussion in the home setting about abstinence.
12 (b) Chastity education, as part of a comprehensive
13 abstinence program, shall teach teenagers that:
14 (1) Abstaining from sexual activity is the only certain way
15 to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases
16 and the related emotional trauma.
17 (2) Chastity promotes sexual self-control, self-esteem and
18 self-respect, regardless of previous sexual behavior.
19 (3) Abstaining from sexual activity outside of marriage is
20 the expected standard for all school age children.
21 (4) Bearing children out of wedlock is likely to have
22 harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents and
23 society.
24 (5) The use of drugs and alcohol increases a person's
25 vulnerability to sexual advances and prevents good decision
26 making.
27 (c) The Department of Health may make grants to or contract
28 with nonprofit organizations to provide abstinence programs. In
29 doing so, the department shall make use of any Federal or State
30 funds available for abstinence programs.
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1 (d) The Department of Education shall cooperate with the
2 Department of Health by providing in-school faculty with teacher
3 training seminars and curriculum materials to assist in-school
4 faculty with providing abstinence programs.
5 (e) The Department of Health shall promulgate any
6 regulations necessary to implement this section.
7 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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