ASSEMBLY, No. 210

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman WEINBERG

An Act concerning family life instruction in the public schools and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Any instruction offered by a public school district in family life education, human sexuality and HIV/AIDS education or similar subjects shall embody a comprehensive approach including units on abstinence from sexual axctivity and the value of postponing sexual involvement, faithful monogamy, contraception, the use of condoms and safer sexual behavior, and the obligations and responsibilities of parenting in order to help students to avoid unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Programs shall help students to understand how to make responsible decisions, refuse unwanted sexual attention, and develop an understanding of self-esteem, life goals, personal values, and community responsibility. Programs shall also attempt to reduce stereotypes based on gender and sexuality and reduce sexual harassment and dating violence.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that when a public school district provides instruction to students in family life education, human sexuality, and HIV/AIDS education or similar subjects it must embody a comprehensive approach including units on abstinence from sexual activity, faithful monogamy, contraception, the use of condoms and safer sexual behavior, and the obligations and responsibilities of parenting. Programs must also help students to understand how to make responsible decisions, refuse unwanted sexual attention, reduce stereotypes of gender and sexuality, and reduce sexual harassment and dating violence.

Requires that family life instruction in the public schools embody a balanced comprehensive approach.