HB 1766 – AS INTRODUCED
2006 SESSION
04/09
HOUSE BILL 1766
AN ACT relative to the duties of the state board of education concerning educating pupils on AIDS and venereal diseases.
SPONSORS: Rep. Balboni, Hills 21; Rep. Hagan, Hills 17; Rep. Newton, Straf 1; Rep. Ingbretson, Graf 5
This bill requires the state board of education to comply with certain statutory provisions relating to HIV and venereal disease education and report its findings to the general court no later than December 31, 2006.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
06-3047
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
AN ACT relative to the duties of the state board of education concerning educating pupils on AIDS and venereal diseases.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings. The general court finds that:
I. The state board of education has not performed its statutory obligation to “investigate the condition and efficiency of public education with special reference to the instruction given in physiology and hygiene in relation to the effect of venereal diseases on the human system, prescribe such a course in respect to these subjects as will stimulate and guide public sentiment and give a detailed account of its doings in relation thereto in its biennial report” under RSA 186:11, IX.
II. The state board of education has not performed its statutory obligation to “evaluate AIDS information programs and course counseling activities, on a continuing basis, at private and public secondary and postsecondary educational and vocational educational institutions” under RSA 186:11, IX-a (b).
III. The department of health and human services, community and public health, communicable disease surveillance section has compiled sexually transmitted disease (STD) data for the years 2000 through 2004 and determined that:
(a) Chlamydia incidence rates in New Hampshire have risen 55 percent.
(b) Gonorrhea incidence rates in New Hampshire have risen 20 percent.
(c) Non-gonococcal urethritis incidence rates in New Hampshire have risen 72 percent.
(d) Mucopurulent cervicitis incidence rates in New Hampshire have risen 180 percent.
(e) Pelvic inflammatory disease incidence rates in New Hampshire have risen 12.5 percent.
IV. The course materials, instruction, and counseling activities being given by New Hampshire school districts to New Hampshire students are failing to reduce the incidence rates of STDs in New Hampshire.
2 State Board of Education; Compliance. The state board of education shall no later than December 31, 2006:
I. Fulfill its statutory obligations under RSA 186:11, IX by investigating the condition and efficiency of public education, including course materials, instruction, and counseling activities, in kindergarten through grade 12 with special reference to the instruction given on venereal diseases.
II. Provide a detailed, written account of its findings, as required under paragraph I, to the house and senate education committees, the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, and the senate health and human services committee. The findings shall be broken down by grade within each school district, as well as include statewide summaries by grade.
III. Fulfill its statutory obligations under RSA 186:11, IX-a(b) by evaluating AIDS information programs and course counseling activities at public secondary educational and vocational educational institutions.
IV. Provide a detailed, written account of its findings, as required under paragraph III, to the house and senate education committees, the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, and the senate health and human services committee. The findings shall be broken down by grade within each school district, as well as include statewide summaries by grade.
V. Analyze and evaluate course materials, instruction, and counseling activities, whether or not currently used in this state, and make recommendations on course materials, instruction, and counseling activities that have been shown to reduce the incidence rates of STDs. Abstinence-only, abstinence-based, and non-abstinence-based course materials, instruction, and counseling activities shall be included in the analysis and evaluation.
VI. Provide the written results, as required under paragraph V, to the house and senate education committees, the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, and the senate health and human services committee.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
06-3047
2/27/06
HB 1766 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the duties of the state board of education concerning educating pupils on AIDS and venereal diseases.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education estimates this bill will increase state expenditures by $560,176 in FY 2007, $137,899 in FY 2008, $140,707 in FY 2009 and $143,656 in FY 2010. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county and local revenue or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department indicated that it currently collects data on teenage sexuality and risk behavior from students in grades 9 through 12 every other year. This information comprises the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In addition, the Department prepares the School Health Profile, which is a survey of middle and high school principals and teachers about curriculum and teaching methods. The Department reviews curriculum material, audiovisual material and other classroom aids specific to teaching about HIV and AIDS, through the Program Review Panel before making such material available to classroom teachers. The Department does not provide this material to private schools or post-secondary schools. The Department stated that it currently reviews schools for compliance with the Minimum Standards for School Approval, which includes the requirement to provide family life and comprehensive sexual education including instruction relative to abstinence and sexually transmitted infections.
The Department assumed that in order to include specific review of instruction about venereal disease for all grades and to determine what is being done, an additional staff person would be necessary. The Department indicated this bill requires the Board of Education to evaluate AIDS information programs at private schools and post-secondary educational and vocational educational institutions. The Department states these schools are currently not required to report this information to the Department; therefore, this reporting would be voluntary and require additional time and effort from the Department. The Department states this bill requires the Department to analyze and evaluate course materials, instruction, and counseling activities and make recommendations on course materials instruction and counseling activities that have been shown to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The Department stated this information does not currently exist and assumes research would be needed to determine if particular classroom practices, curricula or teaching methods influence the rate of youth STD infection and a longitudinal medical study would be necessary to follow the rate of STD infection among NH youths. The Department assumed this research would be contracted through a university. The Department estimated the costs as follows:
FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010
Education Consultant LG 26 $ 41,789 $ 43,680 $ 45,630 $ 47,678
Benefits @44% 18,387 19,219 20,077 20,978
Contract for Baseline Study 500,000 0 0 0
Annual Collection of Data Cost 0 75,000 75,000 75,000
Total $560,176 $137,899 $140,707 $143,656
The Department assumed no cost of living increases but did include step increases.