ASSEMBLY, No. 227
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION
By Assemblyman GARCIA
An Act providing for instructional programs on the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that in just 10 years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), has claimed more American lives than did the Korean and Vietnam wars combined; that New Jersey ranks fifth in the nation in the number of its citizens infected with HIV/AIDS; that AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among persons who are 15 to 24 years of age; that according to recent reports, HIV is spreading rapidly and unchecked among adolescents, regardless of socioeconomic status; and that not all students in New Jersey are receiving an accurate or comprehensive education on the subject of HIV/AIDS.
2. Instructional programs on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS shall be taught in each public school and in each grade in a manner adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils. The programs shall be based upon the curriculum guidelines established by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to section 3 of this act and shall be included in the curriculum for each grade in such a manner as to provide a thorough and comprehensive treatment of the subject.
3. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and community-based health care professionals, shall develop curriculum guidelines for education programs on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS which shall provide a sequential course of study for each grade. The guidelines shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to ensure that the curriculum reflects the most current information available. The guidelines shall include model instructional units, shall define specific behavioral and learning objectives and shall recommend instructional materials suitable for each grade level.
4. a. Upon completion of the curriculum guidelines required pursuant to section 3 of this act, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall establish in-service workshops and training programs to train members of the teaching staff who are responsible for HIV/AIDS education programs. The in-service training programs may utilize existing county or regional offices, or such other institutions, agencies or persons as the Commissioner of Education deems appropriate. Each board of education shall provide time for the in-service training during the usual school schedule in order to ensure that appropriate teaching staff members are prepared to teach the education program in each grade in each school district.
b. Upon completion of the initial in-service training program, the Commissioner of Education shall ensure that materials, programs and workshops which reflect the most current information on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS are prepared and made available to teaching staff members at regular intervals.
c. In addition to providing in-service training programs for teaching staff members who are responsible for instruction on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS, the Commissioner of Education shall make the training programs available to such other instructional and supervisory personnel as the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate.
5. In addition to the provisions for in-service training established pursuant to this act, the Commissioner of Education shall ensure that the pre-service training of individuals intending to enter the teaching profession includes adequate instruction on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
6. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall establish and administer a system for the evaluation of the effectiveness of instructional programs instituted pursuant to this act. Programs which are shown to be effective shall be made available to other school districts throughout the State.
7. The State Board of Education shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
8. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires instructional programs on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS to be taught in each public school and in each grade in a manner appropriate for the age and understanding of the pupils. The programs would be based upon curriculum guidelines established by the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and community-based health care professionals, and would provide a sequential course of study for each grade. The guidelines, to be reviewed annually and updated as necessary, would include model instructional units, define specific behavioral and learning objectives and recommend instructional materials suitable for each grade level.
The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, is required to establish in-service workshops and training programs to train members of the teaching staff who are responsible for the HIV/AIDS education programs. Each board of education would provide time for the in-service training during the usual school schedule in order to ensure that appropriate teaching staff members are prepared to teach the education program. The Commissioner of Education will ensure that materials, programs and workshops which reflect the most current information on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS are prepared and made available to teaching staff members at regular intervals.
In addition to the provisions for in-service training, the Commissioner of Education would also ensure that the pre-service training of individuals intending to enter the teaching profession includes adequate instruction on the nature and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Finally, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, is required to establish and administer a system for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the instructional programs and to make the most effective programs available to other school districts throughout the State.
Provides for instructional programs in each school grade on prevention of HIV/AIDS.