BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2141
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 10, 2006
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
AB 2141 (Jones) - As Amended: May 2, 2006
Policy Committee: HealthVote:9-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a Parent-Child Communication Assistance
Program (PCCAP) as a continuing program within the Maternal,
Child, and Adolescent Health Branch (MCAHB) of the Department of
Health Services (DHS) with the goal of decreasing teenage
pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by
supporting programs that equip parents, guardians, and parenting
adults with the knowledge, understanding, and communication
skills necessary to talk to their children about their sexual
health, the prevention of STDs and unintended pregnancies, and
making responsible decisions regarding at-risk sexual behavior.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the PCCAP to provide funding for community-based
programs, initiatiaties or activities that 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 and their sexual health,
including the prevention of unintended pregnancies and STDs.
Participation in the program by a parent, guardian, or
parenting adult would be on a voluntary basis only.
2)Requires priority for funding under the program to be given to
public or private nonprofit community-based organizations
operating programs, initiatives or activities that:
a) Target parents, guardians, and parenting adults in
geographic areas that have been found to be at high risk of
AB 2141
Page 2
teen pregnancy.
b) Target parents, guardians, and parenting adults of
foster care youth.
c) Provide parents, guardians, and parenting adults with
effective tools for communicating effectively with minors
regarding their sexual health, including the prevention of
STDs and unintended pregnancies, and to increase the
minors' understanding of, and ability to act responsibly
regarding, their own sexuality and the social pressures
affecting them.
3)Requires grants to be made available to qualified public or
private nonprofit organizations.
FISCAL EFFECT
Based on funding for four similar programs, GF cost pressure of
around $7 million annually, assuming three additional staff at a
cost of $333,000 and $6.8 million in grant funds annually,
assuming 46 grants with an average grant amount of $140,000.
Actual amounts would be determined through the budget act. This
bill states it is to 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.
SUMMARY (continued)
5)Requires the MCAHB of DHS to establish qualifications for
funding, which include, but are not limited to, each of the
following:
a) Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and competence for the
target population.
b) Factual information in the curriculum regarding human
sexuality, the prevention of unintended pregnancy, and
sexually transmitted infections must be medically accurate
and objective.
AB 2141
Page 3
c) Demonstrated ability to provide effective tools, skills,
and strategies for adult communication with minors
regarding sexuality.
d) Provision or referral of a comprehensive range of
services to meet the health, education, and welfare needs
of minors.
e) Provision of a list of available resources in the
community.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill is jointly sponsored by the National
Center on Youth Law and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of
California who argue that youth make better decisions about
sexual activity when they have accurate information and when
they can speak freely about sex with their parents and
guardians. The sponsors believe it is important that parents
build a relationship of communication with their children
about sexual activity, and providing parents with medically
accurate information and the tools for communication are the
best ways to prevent at-risk behavior and unwanted
pregnancies. The author contends research shows that teens
who feel comfortable communicating openly with their parents,
guardians, or other adult mentors about sexuality are more
likely to delay sexual activity, are less likely to engage in
risky sexual behavior, and are better equipped to have healthy
relationships and attitudes about sexuality.
2)Background . Almost 80% of teen pregnancies are unintended,
and 36% result in abortion. DHS currently administers,
through its Office of Family Planning, several programs aimed
at pregnancy prevention, including the Male Involvement
Program (MIP), the Community Challenge Grant Program, the
TeenSmart Program and the Information and Education Program.
For 2005-06, DHS has 13 positions at a cost of $1.3 million
and approximately $25.8 million for 185 grants for these four
programs.
AB 2141
Page 4
Analysis Prepared by : Scott Bain / APPR. / (916) 319-2081