81R5782 EAH-D
 
  By: Averitt S.B. No. 1219
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a parenting and paternity awareness component of the
  health curriculum used in public high schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.002(p), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (p)  The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the
  office of the attorney general, shall develop a parenting and
  paternity awareness program for [that a school district shall] use
  in a school [the] district's high school health curriculum. The
  program shall be included in the curriculum for any full-year high
  school course that meets a requirement for health education credit. 
  At the discretion of a district, the program or part of the program
  may be included in the curriculum for a high school course lasting
  less than a full year that meets a requirement for health education
  credit.  The program must:
               (1)  address parenting skills and responsibilities,
  including child support and other legal rights and responsibilities
  that come with parenthood;
               (2)  address relationship skills, including money
  management, communication skills, and marriage preparation; and
               (3)  in district high schools that do not have a family
  violence prevention program, address skills relating to the
  prevention of family violence.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.