HB 2232 -- Sexual Education and Pregnancy Prevention

Sponsor:  Low

This bill changes the laws regarding sexual education, sexually
transmitted infection therapies, pregnancy prevention, and the
dispensing of prescriptions by pharmacies.

SEXUAL EDUCATION

The bill requires any course materials and instruction relating
to human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases to be based
on peer reviewed projects that have been demonstrated to
influence healthy behavior, be age appropriate, and must:

(1)  Show abstinence from sexual activity as the only sure way to
avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections;

(2)  Present students with the latest information on the benefits
and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods as a
means to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of contracting
sexually transmitted infections and other diseases;

(3)  Provide information regarding the vaccine for human
papillomavirus;

(4)  Encourage communication about sexuality between parents and
their children;

(5)  Help young people gain knowledge about the physical,
biological, and hormonal changes of adolescence, the transitions
in human maturity, and responsible decision making regarding
sexuality and drug and alcohol use;

(6)  Help students develop skills in critical thinking, problem
solving, decision making, and stress management in order to make
healthy decisions about sexuality and relationships; and

(7)  Teach students about the dangers of sexual predators
including online predators and how to behave responsibly and
remain safe on the Internet and about the consequences of
inappropriate text messaging.

The bill repeals the provision which prohibits a school district
or charter school from providing abortion services and an
abortion provider from furnishing human sexuality instruction and
curriculum.  Each school district or charter school must make all
curriculum material and the names and affiliations of presenters
used in the school's instruction available for public inspection
prior to its use.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION THERAPIES

Licensed physicians are allowed to use expedited partner therapy
under certain conditions by dispensing and prescribing
medications for partners of persons diagnosed with certain
sexually transmitted infections even when there is no existing
physician/patient relationship.  Immunity from civil liability is
given to any licensed physician using expedited partner therapy
unless the action is negligent, reckless, in bad faith, or with
malicious purpose.

BIRTH CONTROL PROTECTION ACT

The Birth Control Protection Act is established and specifies
that the General Assembly finds that consenting individuals have
a protected interest in freedom from unreasonable governmental
intrusions into their private lives when obtaining and using safe
and effective methods of contraception.  No governmental actor or
entity will be authorized to interfere in a consenting
individual's right to obtain or use safe and effective methods of
contraception or to interfere with or discriminate against those
rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities,
services, or information.  Laws, rules, ordinances, taxes, or
regulations that are reasonably designed to promote public health
and safety in the sale and distribution of contraceptives and do
not have the effect of unreasonably hindering public access to
contraceptives are not affected by the bill.

DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONS BY PHARMACIES

The bill requires a licensed pharmacy to dispense a prescribed
drug or device in stock without delay and in a manner that is
consistent with the normal time frame for filling any other
prescription.  If the prescribed drug or device is not in stock,
the pharmacy must use standard procedures for expedited ordering
to fulfill the prescription or locate another pharmacy of the
customer's choice and transfer the prescription.  The pharmacy
must carry out the customer's chosen option in a timely fashion.
A pharmacy cannot intimidate, threaten, or harass a customer
during the delivery of services.  Over-the-counter contraceptive
drug requests must also be fulfilled in a timely fashion.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm