STATE OF NEW JERSEY
213th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2008 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Mercer)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Requires each board of education to offer instruction in comprehensive family life education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning family life education, supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and repealing P.L.2001, c.303.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Each board of education shall offer instruction in comprehensive family life education as part of the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. As used in this section, "comprehensive family life education" means education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, that is medically accurate and age-appropriate; respects community values and encourages parental communication; promotes responsible sexual behavior and addresses both abstinence and the use of contraception; promotes individual responsibility and involvement regarding sexuality; and teaches skills for responsible decision-making regarding sexuality.
2. P.L.2001, c.303 (C.18A:35-4.19 through 18A:35-4.22) is repealed.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires each board of education to offer instruction in comprehensive family life education as part of the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. As used in the bill, "comprehensive family life education" means education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, that is medically accurate and age-appropriate; respects community values and encourages parental communication; promotes responsible sexual behavior and addresses both abstinence and the use of contraception; promotes individual responsibility and involvement regarding sexuality; and teaches skills for responsible decision-making regarding sexuality.
The bill also repeals P.L.2001, c. 303, a statute requiring any type of family life education, whether involving a speaker, audiovisuals or printed materials, to stress that abstinence is the only completely reliable means of eliminating sexually transmitted diseases and avoiding pregnancy.