BILL ANALYSIS
By: Deshotel
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
There has been an increase in births to unmarried parents in Texas from 1995 to 2002. To address this problem the Office of the Attorney General created the "Parenting and Paternity Awareness" (P.A.P.A.) program. The curriculum involved in the program includes discussions regarding marriage, committed relationships, and emphasizes the importance of fathers to a child's well-being.
Many teachers across Texas have received the curriculum training with positive response from both teachers and students. However, the Texas Education Code does not require school districts to provide an educational program or support services for students who are parents or who are pregnant. Requiring this type of program in schools may better inform students about the duties and responsibilities of parenting, relationship skills, and money management. Additionally, such a program may decrease the number of pregnancies and improve parenting relationship and financial skills of those who are parents and of those who are soon to become parents.
House Bill 2176 requires a school district to incorporate a parenting and paternity awareness program, developed by the State Board of Education in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, into the high school health curriculum.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
House Bill 2176 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop a parenting and paternity awareness program that a school district is required to use in its high school health curriculum. The bill specifies the skills and responsibilities that the program must address, including parenting skill and responsibilities, child support and other legal rights and responsibilities that come with parenthood, relationship skills, skills relating to the prevention of family violence (in district high schools that do not have an existing family violence prevention program), and other skills as specified in the bill.
The bill requires the State Board of Education to develop the program not later than May 1, 2008, and requires a school district to use the program beginning with the 2008-2009 school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.