BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin Murray, Chairman
1471 (Kuehl)
Hearing Date: 5/25/2006 Amended: 4/6/2006
Consultant: John Miller Policy Vote: Health 5 - 2
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 1471 requires that any program providing sex
education shall be medically accurate, current and objective.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Fund
DHS enforcement $ 400 $ 300 $ 300 GF
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STAFF COMMENTS: Suspense.
This bill specifies that any program that provides instruction
or information intended to prevent adolescent or unintended
pregnancy or to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted
diseases and uses state funding, must be medically accurate and
objective. The bill also requires instructors to be
knowledgeable and qualified, that content be age appropriate,
prohibits promotion of religious doctrine and does not contain
any bias based on disability, gender, ethnicity, religion or
sexual orientation. The measure also specifies content related
to the intent of the education. The bill requires anyone
receiving state aid to provide such education to comply with
this law and the requirements of the California Comprehensive
Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Act. The author believes that
despite current prohibition, the state continues to fund
programs which are biased and incomplete.
This legislation will affect programs offered by the Department
of Health Services, Office of Family Planning and Office of AIDS
Education. The Office of Family Planning offers 117 community
based education programs across the state. SB 1471 does affect
programs offered in state schools.
No cost estimate from the department was available at the time
of this analysis. The cost estimate is based on estimates for
prior legislation, SB 71 (2003) and the requirement that the
Department oversee compliance with standards in health oriented
programs.