One of the first pieces of legislation that the New York State Assembly Health Committee acted on in 2009 was the Healthy Teens Act. This legislation has been around in various forms since 2003. The bill, A1806, sponsored by Assemblyman Gottfried (D – Manhattan), is unchanged from last year’s version.

The intent of the legislation is to provide an annual grant to develop and implement a comprehensive sex education program in the public school system. A1806 has a two-fold purpose: cutting the rate of unintended teenage pregnancy and reducing occurrences of sexually transmitted diseases among young people. The bill does not limit instruction to only teenagers, but leaves the door open to instruct younger children as well.

The bill does not specify how large the annual grant would be, but the bill’s sponsor has said that "ten million dollars would be a drop in the bucket." Those eligible to apply for a grant would be public school districts, a board of cooperative educational services, school based health centers, and community based organizations, or a consortium or partnership formed by a public school district with one of the previously mentioned organizations.

It should be noted that New York taxpayers are already funding many comprehensive sex education programs. In July 2007, New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines cancelled all existing federal Title V abstinence-only contracts, opting instead to expand the state’s comprehensive sexual education programs. As of October 2007, New York began redirecting $2.6 million in annual state funds to comprehensive sexual education in schools and other community settings.

A1806 has two mandatory core components. First, the instruction must be age appropriate and medically accurate, and second, the curriculum must not teach or promote religion. A discussion of moral, ethical or religious views related to sex or sexual relationships, however, is permissible under the bill.

The bill contains other suggested components of age-appropriate sex education, but they are not mandated requirements.  These optional components include abstinence instruction, sensitivity to teens who have had or who are having sexual intercourse, and education concerning the side effects of various contraceptives (to be provided when contraceptive education is included in the instruction).

Family Planning Advocates (an organization that represents New York State’s Planned Parenthood affiliates) and various other abortion-advocacy organizations are pushing hard for this legislation. They stand in a good position to be recipients of the grant money.

The argument over abstinence-based sex education as opposed to comprehensive sex education will no doubt continue, but there should be no mistake that abstinence until marriage is always the ideal choice for every teenager, as it is the only way to protect teenagers from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy 100% of the time. The real question is whether public policy will encourage the best choices for our teenagers, or settle for something less.

A1806 has passed the Assembly Health Committee by a vote of 23-2. The bill awaits action in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Assemblyman Tobacco (R - Staten Island) was joined by Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D - Kenmore) in opposing the bill. Abstinence education advocates were encouraged by this action; though the pool of legislators opposing A1806 was small, it was bi-partisan.

Rev. Jason McGuire, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms’ Legislative Director, said, "Conservatives need to support legislators that support right values regardless of party affiliation. There are some good Democrats and some bad Republicans. Christians should take note of each."