Gov. Jim Doyle signed a law that mandates comprehensive sex education in all Wisconsin public schools Wednesday.
The Healthy Youth Act stresses that schools take an unbiased, age-appropriate approach to sexual education. It mandates the instruction of both the benefit of abstinence as well as the benefits and proper use of contraceptives.
""I am pleased to sign the Healthy Youth Act, which gives every Wisconsin teen the tools they need to make healthy and responsible life decisions,"" Doyle said in a statement.
The law requires schools to cover materials such as sexual communication skills, sexual anatomy and the effects of alcohol and drug use on decision making. It also mandates that schools identify accessible counseling resources for students.
Opponents have previously stated the bill might encourage unsafe behavior and could contradict what parents tell their children. State Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, co-authored the bill. She said the bill was necessary to combat sexual issues statewide.
""We have an epidemic rate of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and it's completely preventable,"" Roys said. ""The passage of this bill shows that finally lawmakers have the courage to put the health and safety of young people before political ideology.""
According to Roys, existing state laws did not standardize effective sexual education approaches, and the Healthy Youth Act requires usage of research-based information.
""No more are we going to be paying taxpayer dollars… to mislead young people about decisions that are going to potentially negatively impact their health. We are actually going to be spending money on what works,"" Roys said.
Roys said the bill deals with a range of issues that had not previously been addressed, including domestic and dating violence and tools to negotiate, avoid and resist peer pressure.
She said she stressed the importance of a comprehensive decision-making education for teens.
""There is no sex-ed when you're a grown-up. So this is really our best time to equip young people to make healthy decisions. Not just while they're young but throughout their lives,"" Roys said.
