BILL NUMBER: AB 2141	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 27, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2006

   An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 124240) to
Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to family planning.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2141, as amended, Jones  Family planning: Parent-Child
Communication Assistance Program.
   Under existing law, specified family planning services,
administered by the Office of Family Planning within the State
Department of Health Services, are provided to Medi-Cal recipients
and certain other persons.
   Existing law establishes various programs administered by the
department relating to adolescent health.
   This bill would establish the Parent-Child Communication
Assistance Program within the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Branch
of the department, with the goal of decreasing teenage pregnancies
through programs that equip parents, guardians, and parenting adults
with the knowledge, understanding, and communication skills necessary
to talk to their children about making responsible decisions
regarding at-risk sexual behavior. The bill would require that the
program focus on parents, guardians, and parenting adults of minor
children at risk of becoming pregnant or impregnating someone, and
would specify the funding priorities and certain provider 
qualification standards   qualifications  under the
program. It would provide for the program to be implemented to the
extent that an appropriation for that purpose is made from state or
federal funds.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Research shows that teenagers who feel comfortable
communicating openly about sexuality with their parents, their
guardians, or other adult mentors are more likely to delay sexual
activity, are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, and are
better equipped to have healthy relationships than other teenagers.

   (b) The goal of the Parent-Child Communication Assistance Program
is to decrease teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases,
and sexual assault through programs that equip parenting adults with
the knowledge, understanding, and communication skills necessary to
talk with their children about sex and sexuality.
   (c) Parenting adults often do not feel comfortable discussing sex
with their children. Parents, guardians, and other parenting adults
want to help their children make the best possible decisions
regarding what's best for them.  Honest communication not only
provides minors with the tools necessary for making responsible
decisions, but also helps protect them from sexual abuse and from
becoming sexual abusers.
  SEC. 2.  Article 3 (commencing with Section 124240) is added to
Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to
read:

      Article 3.  Parent-Child Communication Assistance Program

   124240.  (a) The Parent-Child Communication Assistance Program
shall be a continuing program within the Maternal, Child, and
Adolescent Branch of the department, with the goal of decreasing
teenage pregnancies through programs that equip parents, guardians,
and parenting adults with the knowledge, understanding, and
communication skills necessary to talk to their children about making
responsible decisions regarding at-risk sexual behavior.
   (b) The program shall focus on parents, guardians, and parenting
adults of minor children at risk of becoming pregnant or impregnating
someone, in an effort to provide the parents, guardians, and
parenting adults with effective tools for communicating with their
children regarding responsible behavior.
   (c) Participation in the program by a parent, guardian, or
parenting adult shall be on a voluntary basis only.
   (d) Priority for funding under the program shall be given to
public or private nonprofit organizations operating any of the
following types of programs:
   (1) Programs that target parents, guardians, and parenting adults
in geographic areas that have been found to be at high risk of teen
pregnancy.
   (2) Programs for parents, guardians, and parenting adults of
foster care youth.
   (3) Programs designed to assist parents, guardians, and parenting
adults in communicating effectively with minors to increase the
minors' understanding of, and ability to act responsibly regarding,
their own sexuality and the social pressures affecting them.
   (e) Grants shall be made available to qualified public or private
nonprofit providers. The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Branch of
the department shall establish provider  qualification
standards,   qualifications,  which shall include,
but not be limited to, each of the following:
   (1) Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and competence.
   (2)  The medical accuracy and objectivity of all 
 All  factual information in the curriculum regarding human
sexuality, the prevention of unintended pregnancy, and sexually
transmitted infections  shall be medically accurate and objective
 .
   (3) Demonstrated ability to provide effective tools, skills, and
strategies for adult communication with minors regarding sexuality.
   (4) The provision of, or referral for, a comprehensive range of
services to meet the health, education, and welfare needs of minors.

   (5) The provision of a list of available resources in the
community.
   (f) For purposes of this section, "parenting adult" means an adult
in a child rearing or mentoring role, regardless of whether the
adult is a relative of the minor.
   (g) This section shall be implemented to the extent that an
appropriation for that purpose is made from funds made available by
the federal government or the state, or by both.