Bill will require comprehensive sex education including information about abstinence and methods of protection from diseases and unintended pregnancy
April 1, 2008
SARASOTA, FL – Today, members of the Senate Committee on Education Pre-K – 12 passed the Healthy Teens Act, SB 848 by Senator Ted Deutch (D-30) by a vote of 4-3. The Healthy Teens Act (SB 848) requires Florida public schools that already teach information about sexually transmitted infections, family planning, and pregnancy to provide medically-accurate and comprehensive sex education – including facts about abstinence and methods of preventing unintended pregnancy and the spread of diseases. The bill now moves to the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs.

Planned Parenthood applauds Senators Deutch, Carlton, Wilson, and Bullard for putting teen health first, and supporting legislation that will provide parents and teens with information and education to be responsible and safe about their health. Unfortunately, Senators Diaz de la Portilla, Gaetz, and Wise voted against this commonsense measure, failing to protect Florida’s teens and failing to represent the majority of Floridians, 78% of whom support requiring comprehensive sex education, according to a poll conducted by Hamilton-Beattie & Staff and Public Opinion Strategies.

“I am proud that we have Florida legislators who put the health and safety of our teens first and support the Healthy Teens Act,” says Adrienne Kimmell, Executive Director, Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. “Our youth need comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate, including the facts that help protect them from diseases that threaten their health.”

The passage of the Healthy Teens Act comes after a recent CDC study showing that one in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection – and nearly half of all Africa-American teen girls have a sexually transmitted infection. Additionally, a recent University of Florida showed that there are no statewide standards for sex education and teens are getting too little information, too late.

“Florida’s lack of statewide standards for sex education means that our youth are getting no information or inaccurate information from ineffective abstinence-only programs, and our teen girls are paying the price,” said Kimmell. “The recent news that at least one in four teen girls has a sexually transmitted infection should serve as the final warning bell for lawmakers that we need to provide teenagers with the information they need to make responsible decisions.”

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The Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates (FAPPA) is the state public policy office representing Florida’s seven Planned Parenthood affiliates with 27 health care centers across the state. FAPPA works to advance public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and medically-accurate sex education in order to make comprehensive reproductive health care available to all.