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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial-18 requests the Department of Health and the State Department of Education examine the relationship between the absence of sex education in middle school and high school, and the unacceptable high teen pregnancy rate in New Mexico. Senate Public Affairs Committee amendment #1 requires the Department of Health and the State Department of Public Education to examine methods to involve parents in the education of their children and to require accountability on the part of the parents.

Significant Issues

The legislature is concerned with the high teenage pregnancy rate in New Mexico and the low rate of comprehensive sexuality education in the middle schools and high schools in New Mexico. Sexuality education is not a required course of study in New Mexico's schools and is not provided consistently in community programs in the state.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

There is no request for a report of the study nor is there a timetable for completion of the study.

MB/njw