A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-32-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION" TO PROVIDE FOR AGE APPROPRIATE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND MEDICALLY ACCURATE INSTRUCTION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ABSTINENCE MAY NOT BE TAUGHT AS THE ONLY OR PRIMARY METHOD OF PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND THE PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-32-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "PREGNANCY PREVENTION EDUCATION" TO INCLUDE THE BENEFITS OF ABSTINENCE UNTIL MARRIAGE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-32-30, RELATING TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS IMPLEMENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, SO AS TO INCLUDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PREGNANCY PREVENTION EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH EIGHT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.   Section 59-32-10(2) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   As used in this chapter:

   (2) "Reproductive health education" means age appropriate, comprehensive, and medically accurate instruction in human physiology, conception, prenatal care and development, childbirth, and postnatal care, but does not include instruction concerning sexual practices outside marriage or practices unrelated to reproduction except within the context of the risk of disease. Abstinence and the risks associated with sexual activity outside of marriage must be strongly emphasizedmay be discussed, but abstinence may not be the only or primary method of pregnancy prevention or prevention of sexually transmitted diseases discussed.

SECTION 2.   Section 59-32-10(4)(a) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   As used in this chapter:

   (4) "Pregnancy prevention education" means instruction intended to:

      (a) stress the importance of abstaining from sexual activitydiscuss the benefits of practicing abstinence until marriage;

SECTION 3.   Section 59-32-30(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   (A) Pursuant to guidelines developed by the board, each local school board shall implement the following program of instruction:

      (1) Beginning with the 1988-89 school year, forFor grades kindergarten through five, instruction in comprehensive health education must include the following subjects: community health, consumer health, environmental health, growth and development, nutritional health, personal health, prevention and control of diseases and disorders, safety and accident prevention, substance use and abuse, dental health, and mental and emotional health. Sexually transmitted diseases as defined in the annual Department of Health and Environmental Control List of Reportable Diseases are to be excluded from instruction on the prevention and control of diseases and disorders. At the discretion of the local board, age-appropriate instruction in reproductive health may be included.

      (2) Beginning with the 1988-1989 school year, forFor grades six through eight, instruction in comprehensive health must include the following subjects: community health, consumer health, environmental health, growth and development, nutritional health, personal health, prevention and control of diseases and disorders, safety and accident prevention, substance use and abuse, dental health, mental and emotional health, and reproductive health education, domestic violence, and pregnancy prevention education. Sexually transmitted diseases are to be included as a part of instruction. At the discretion of the local board, instruction in family life education or pregnancy prevention education or both may be included, but instruction in these subjects may not include an explanation of the methods of contraception before the sixth grade. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, for grades six through eight, instruction in comprehensive health education also must include the subject of domestic violence.

      (3) Beginning with the 1989-90 school year, atAt least one time during the four years of grades nine through twelve, each student shall receive instruction in comprehensive health education, including at least seven hundred fifty minutes of reproductive health education and pregnancy prevention education.

SECTION 4.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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