Abstinence Bill Signed into Law

ABSTINENCE BILL AUTHORED BY LAZICH SIGNED INTO LAW
Abstinence must be taught as preferred choice of behavior
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sen. Lazich
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2006 PHONE: (608) 266-5400
(MADISON) - A bill requiring that school boards that choose to
provide sex education present abstinence as the preferred choice of
behavior was signed into law by the Governor today. State Senator
Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) is the author of Senate Bill 286.
Instruction in human growth and development is optional for
Wisconsin school districts. Lazich’s bill simply requires that if schools
opt for this curriculum, that abstinence must also be promoted.

“There is only one method that is 100 percent effective in preventing
unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases,” said
Lazich. “It is abstinence. That is indisputable. Health professionals
agree that abstinence is the healthiest choice for teens. This bill
signed into law today is a common sense approach to an adolescent
health issue.”
Sexual activity among teens leads to out-of-wedlock pregnancies,
sexually transmitted diseases, increased rates of single parenthood,
and increased abortion.
“In order to make the choice to be abstinent, teens must hear the
abstinence message and be equipped with accurate information
about the consequences resulting from sexual activity,” said Lazich.
“If a school chooses to offer sex education, it is important that the
message is loud and clear that abstinence is the only way to be safe
and healthy. Sadly, today’s teens are not hearing that message. Now
they will.”

Teens want to hear about abstinence. According to the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 2003 publication titled, With
one voice: America’s adults and teens sound off about teen
pregnancy, over 90% of teens say that “it is important for teens to be
given a strong message from society that they should abstain from
sex until they are at least out of high school.”
A survey taken of Wisconsin high school students grades 9-12 shows
40% admitted they have had sexual intercourse. Lazich says the
Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, developed by the U.S.
Centers for Disease, is a clear reason why there needs to be greater
emphasis on abstinence.

“It is alarming that four out of every ten high school students in
Wisconsin today have already engaged in sexual activity,” said
Lazich. “The health and well-being of our teens is at stake. If a school
chooses to offer sex education, it is important that the message is
loud and clear that abstinence is the only way to be safe and
healthy.”
The new law is not a mandate and it does not require that abstinence
be taught exclusively. The concept of teaching abstinence as part of
a comprehensive program is endorsed by the American Medical
Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.