Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2017

To provide for the overall health and well-being of young people, including the promotion of lifelong sexual health and healthy relationships, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2017 2. Purposes; finding; sense of Congress (a) Purposes The purposes of this Act are to provide young people with comprehensive sex education programs that— (1) promote and uphold the rights of young people to information in order to make healthy decisions about their sexual health; (2) provide the information and skills all young people need to make informed, responsible, and healthy decisions in order to become sexually healthy adults and have healthy relationships; (3) provide information about the prevention of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, dating violence, sexual assault, bullying, and harassment; and (4) provide resources and information on topics ranging from gender stereotyping and gender roles and stigma and socio-cultural influences surrounding sex and sexuality. (b) Finding on required resources In order to provide the comprehensive sex education described in subsection (a), Congress finds that increased resources are required for sex education programs that— (1) substantially incorporate elements of evidence-based programs or characteristics of effective programs; (2) cover a broad range of topics, including medically accurate and complete information that is age and developmentally appropriate about all the aspects of sex, sexual health, and sexuality; (3) are gender and gender identity-sensitive, emphasizing the importance of equality and the social environment for achieving sexual and reproductive health and overall well-being; (4) promote educational achievement, critical thinking, decisionmaking, self-esteem, and self-efficacy; (5) help develop healthy attitudes and insights necessary for understanding relationships between oneself and others and society; (6) foster leadership skills and community engagement by— (A) promoting principles of fairness, human dignity, and respect; and (B) engaging young people as partners in their communities; and (7) are culturally and linguistically appropriate, reflecting the diverse circumstances and realities of young people. (c) Sense of congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) federally funded sex education programs should aim to— (A) provide information about a range of human sexuality topics, including— (i) human development, healthy relationships, personal skills; (ii) sexual behavior including abstinence; (iii) sexual health including preventing unintended pregnancy; (iv) sexually transmitted infections including HIV; and (v) society and culture; (B) promote safe and healthy relationships; (C) promote gender equity; (D) use, and be informed by, the best scientific information available; (E) be culturally appropriate and inclusive of youth with varying gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations; (F) be built on characteristics of effective programs; (G) expand the existing body of research on comprehensive sex education programs through program evaluation; (H) expand training programs for teachers of comprehensive sex education; (I) build on programs funded under section 513 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 713 Public Law 111–117 (J) promote and uphold the rights of young people to information in order to make healthy and autonomous decisions about their sexual health; and (2) no Federal funds should be used for health education programs that— (A) withhold health-promoting or life-saving information about sexuality-related topics, including HIV; (B) are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective; (C) promote gender or racial stereotypes; (D) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of sexually active young people; (E) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of survivors of sexual violence; (F) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of youth of all physical, developmental, and mental abilities; (G) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of youth with varying gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations; or (H) are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health. 3. Grants for comprehensive sex education for adolescents (a) Program authorized The Secretary, in coordination with the Associate Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Director of the Office of Adolescent Health, the Director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such eligible entities to carry out programs that provide adolescents with comprehensive sex education, as described in subsection (f). (b) Duration Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (c) Eligible entity In this section, the term eligible entity (d) Applications An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance to participate in the evaluation described in section 6. (e) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— (1) are State or local public entities; (2) are entities not currently receiving funds under— (A) section 513 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 713 (B) the Office of Adolescent Health’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, funded under title II of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 ( Public Law 111–117 (C) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health; and (3) address health inequities among young people that face systemic barriers resulting in disproportionate rates of not less than one of the following: (A) Unintended pregnancies. (B) Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. (C) Dating violence and sexual violence. (f) Use of funds (1) In general Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out an education program that provides adolescents with comprehensive sex education that— (A) is age and developmentally appropriate; (B) is medically accurate and complete; (C) substantially incorporates elements of evidence-based sex education instruction; or (D) creates a demonstration project based on characteristics of effective programs. (2) Contents of comprehensive sex education programs The comprehensive sex education programs funded under this section shall include instruction and materials that address— (A) the physical, social, and emotional changes of human development including, human anatomy, reproduction, and sexual development; (B) healthy relationships, including friendships, within families, and society, that are based on mutual respect, and the ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy relationships, including— (i) effective communication, negotiation and refusal skills, including the skills to recognize and report inappropriate or abusive sexual advances; (ii) bodily autonomy, setting and respecting personal boundaries, practicing personal safety, and consent; and (iii) the limitations and harm of gender-role stereotypes, violence, coercion, bullying, harassment, and intimidation in relationships; (C) healthy decisionmaking skills about sexuality and relationships that include— (i) critical thinking, problem solving, self-efficacy, stress-management, self-care, and decisionmaking; (ii) individual values and attitudes; (iii) the promotion of positive body images; (iv) developing an understanding that there are a range of body types and encouraging positive feeling about students’ own body types; (v) information on how to respect others and ensure safety on the internet and when using other forms of digital communication; (vi) information on local services and resources where students can obtain additional information related to bullying, harassment, dating violence and sexual assault, suicide prevention, and other related care; (vii) encouragement for youth to communicate with their parents or guardians, health and social service professionals, and other trusted adults about sexuality and intimate relationships; (viii) information on how to create a safe environment for all students and others in society; (ix) examples of varying types of relationships, couples, and family structures; and (x) affirmative representation of varying gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations, including individuals and relationships between same sex couples and their families; (D) abstinence, delaying age of first sexual activity, the use of condoms, preventive medication, vaccination, birth control, and other sexually transmitted infection prevention measures, and the options for pregnancy, including parenting, adoption, and abortion, including— (i) the importance of effectively using condoms, preventive medication, and applicable vaccinations to protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; (ii) the benefits of effective contraceptive and condom use in avoiding unintended pregnancy; (iii) the relationship between substance use and sexual health and behaviors; and (iv) information about local health services where students can obtain additional information and services related to sexual and reproductive health and other related care; (E) through affirmative recognition, the roles that traditions, values, religion, norms, gender roles, acculturation, family structure, health beliefs, and political power play in how students make decisions that affect their sexual health, using examples of various types of races, ethnicities, cultures, and families, including single-parent households and young families; (F) information about gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation for all students, including— (i) affirmative recognition that people have different gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations; and (ii) community resources that can provide additional support for individuals with varying gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations; and (G) opportunities to explore the roles that race, ethnicity, immigration status, disability status, economic status, homelessness, foster care status, and language within different communities affect sexual attitudes in society and culture and how this may impact student sexual health. 4. Grants for comprehensive sex education at institutions of higher education (a) Program authorized The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or consortia of such institutions to enable such institutions to provide young people with comprehensive sex education, described in subsection (e)(2). (b) Duration Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (c) Applications An institution of higher education or consortia of such institutions desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance to participate in the evaluation described in section 6. (d) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an institution of higher education that— (1) has an enrollment of needy students as defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b) (2) is a Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in section 502(a) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a) (3) is a Tribal College or University, as defined in section 316(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) (4) is an Alaska Native-serving institution, as defined in section 317(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) (5) is a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, as defined in section 317(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) (6) is a Predominately Black Institution, as defined in section 318(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b) (7) is a Native American-serving, nontribal institution, as defined in section 319(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059f(b) (8) is an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, as defined in section 320(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059g(b) (9) is a minority institution, as defined in section 365 of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1067k 20 U.S.C. 1058 (e) Uses of funds (1) In general An institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to integrate issues relating to comprehensive sex education into institution of higher education in order to reach a large number of students, by carrying out one or more of the following activities: (A) Developing or adopting educational content for issues relating to comprehensive sex education that will be incorporated into student orientation, general education, or core courses. (B) Developing or adopting, and implementing schoolwide educational programming outside of class that delivers elements of comprehensive sex education programs to students, faculty, and staff. (C) Developing or adopting innovative technology-based approaches to deliver sex education to students, faculty, and staff. (D) Developing or adopting, and implementing peer-outreach and education programs to generate discussion, educate, and raise awareness among students about issues relating to comprehensive sex education. (2) Contents of sex education programs Each institution of higher education’s program of comprehensive sex education funded under this section shall include instruction and materials that address the requirements under section 3(f). 5. Grants for pre-service and in-service teacher training (a) Program authorized The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such eligible entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (e). (b) Duration Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (c) Eligible entity In this section, the term eligible entity (1) a State educational agency; (2) a local educational agency; (3) a tribe or tribal organization, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 (4) a State or local department of health; (5) a State or local department of education; (6) an educational service agency; (7) a nonprofit institution of higher education; (8) a national or statewide nonprofit organization that has as its primary purpose the improvement of provision of comprehensive sex education through training and effective teaching of comprehensive sex education; or (9) a consortium of nonprofit organizations that has as its primary purpose the improvement of provision of comprehensive sex education through training and effective teaching of comprehensive sex education. (d) Application An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance to participate in the evaluation described in section 6. (e) Authorized activities (1) Required activity Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds for professional development and training of relevant faculty, school administrators, teachers, and staff, in order to increase effective teaching of comprehensive sex education students. (2) Permissible activities Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use grant funds to— (A) provide research-based training of teachers for comprehensive sex education for adolescents as a means of broadening student knowledge about issues related to human development, healthy relationships, personal skills, and sexual behavior, including abstinence, sexual health, and society and culture; (B) support the dissemination of information on effective practices and research findings concerning the teaching of comprehensive sex education; (C) support research on— (i) effective comprehensive sex education teaching practices; and (ii) the development of assessment instruments and strategies to document— (I) student understanding of comprehensive sex education; and (II) the effects of comprehensive sex education; (D) convene national conferences on comprehensive sex education, in order to effectively train teachers in the provision of comprehensive sex education; and (E) develop and disseminate appropriate research-based materials to foster comprehensive sex education. (3) Subgrants Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may award subgrants to nonprofit organizations that possess a demonstrated record of providing training to faculty, school administrators, teachers, and staff on comprehensive sex education to— (A) train teachers in comprehensive sex education; (B) support Internet or distance learning related to comprehensive sex education; (C) promote rigorous academic standards and assessment techniques to guide and measure student performance in comprehensive sex education; (D) encourage replication of best practices and model programs to promote comprehensive sex education; (E) develop and disseminate effective, research-based comprehensive sex education learning materials; (F) develop academic courses on the pedagogy of sex education at institutions of higher education; or (G) convene State-based conferences to train teachers in comprehensive sex education and to identify strategies for improvement. 6. Impact evaluation and reporting (a) Multi-Year evaluation (1) In general Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with a nonprofit organization with experience in conducting impact evaluations, to conduct a multi-year evaluation on the impact of the grants under sections 3, 4, and 5, and to report to Congress and the Secretary on the findings of such evaluation. (2) Evaluation The evaluation conducted under this subsection shall— (A) be conducted in a manner consistent with relevant, nationally recognized professional and technical evaluation standards; (B) use sound statistical methods and techniques relating to the behavioral sciences, including quasi-experimental designs, inferential statistics, and other methodologies and techniques that allow for conclusions to be reached; (C) be carried out by an independent organization that has not received a grant under section 3, 4, or 5; and (D) be designed to provide information on— (i) output measures, such as the number of individuals served under the grant and the number of hours of instruction; (ii) outcome measures, including measures relating to— (I) the knowledge that individuals participating in the grant program have gained in each of the following age and developmentally appropriate areas— (aa) growth and development; (bb) relationship dynamics; (cc) ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; and (dd) sexual health; (II) the age and developmentally appropriate skills that individuals participating in the grant program have gained regarding— (aa) negotiation and communication; (bb) decisionmaking and goal-setting; (cc) interpersonal skills and healthy relationships; and (dd) condom use; and (III) the behaviors of adolescents participating in the grant program, including data about— (aa) age of first intercourse; (bb) condom and contraceptive use at first intercourse; (cc) recent condom and contraceptive use; (dd) substance use; (ee) dating abuse and lifetime history of sexual assault, dating violence, bullying, harassment, stalking; and (ff) academic performance; and (iii) other measures necessary to evaluate the impact of the grant program. (3) Report Not later than 6 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the organization conducting the evaluation under this subsection shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and the Secretary an evaluation report. Such report shall be made publicly available, including on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services. (b) Secretary’s report to congress Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period of 5 years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities to provide adolescents and young people with comprehensive sex education and pre-service and in-service teacher training funded under this Act. The Secretary’s report to Congress shall include— (1) a statement of how grants awarded by the Secretary meet the purposes described in section 2(a); and (2) information about— (A) the number of eligible entities and institutions of higher education that are receiving grant funds under sections 3, 4, and 5; (B) the specific activities supported by grant funds awarded under sections 3, 4, and 5; (C) the number of adolescents served by grant programs funded under section 3; (D) the number of young people served by grant programs funded under section 4; (E) the number of faculty, school administrators, teachers, and staff trained under section 5; and (F) the status of the evaluation required under subsection (a). 7. Nondiscrimination Programs funded under this Act shall not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to invalidate or limit rights, remedies, procedures, or legal standards available under any other Federal law or any law of a State or a political subdivision of a State, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000a 20 U.S.C. 1681 29 U.S.C. 794 42 U.S.C. 12101 42 U.S.C. 18116 8. Limitation No Federal funds provided under this Act may be used for health education programs that— (1) withhold health-promoting or life-saving information about sexuality-related topics, including HIV; (2) are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective; (3) promote gender or racial stereotypes; (4) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of sexually active young people; (5) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of pregnant or parenting young people; (6) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of survivors of sexual abuse or assault; (7) are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of youth of all physical, developmental, or mental abilities; (8) are insensitive and unresponsive to individuals with varying gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations; or (9) are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health. 9. Amendments to other laws (a) Amendment to the public health service act Section 2500 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300ee (b) Contents of programs All programs of education and information receiving funds under this subchapter shall include information about the potential effects of intravenous substance abuse. . (b) Amendments to the elementary and secondary education act of 1965 Section 8526 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7906 (1) by striking paragraph (3); (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting or (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ; or (5) by striking paragraph (6). 10. Definitions In this Act: (1) Adolescents The term adolescents (2) Age and developmentally appropriate The term age and developmentally appropriate (3) Appropriate committees of congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (4) Characteristics of effective programs The term characteristics of effective programs (A) have been shown to be effective in terms of increasing knowledge, clarifying values and attitudes, increasing skills, and impacting upon behavior; and (B) are widely recognized by leading medical and public health agencies to be effective in changing sexual behaviors that lead to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, unintended pregnancy, and dating violence and sexual assault among young people. (5) Comprehensive sex education The term comprehensive sex education (6) Consent The term consent (7) Culturally appropriate The term culturally appropriate (8) Evidence-based The term evidence-based (9) Gender expression The term gender expression (10) Gender identity Except with respect to section 7, the term gender identity (11) Inclusive The term inclusive (12) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (13) Medically accurate and complete The term medically accurate and complete (A) the information provided through the program is verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and is published in peer-reviewed journals, where applicable; or (B) (i) the program contains information that leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete; and (ii) the program does not withhold information about the effectiveness and benefits of correct and consistent use of condoms and other contraceptives. (14) Secretary The term Secretary (15) Sexual development The term sexual development (16) Sexual orientation Except with respect to section 7, the term sexual orientation (17) Young people The term young people 11. Funding (a) Appropriation For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there is appropriated $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended. (b) Reservations of funds (1) The Secretary shall reserve 50 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for the purposes of awarding grants for comprehensive sex education for adolescents under section 3. (2) The Secretary shall reserve 25 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for the purposes of awarding grants for comprehensive sex education at institutes of higher education under section 4. (3) The Secretary shall reserve 20 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for the purposes of awarding grants for pre-service and in-service teacher training under section 5. (4) The Secretary shall reserve 2 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for the purpose of carrying out the impact evaluation and reporting required under section 6(a). (c) Secretarial responsibilities The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for each fiscal year for expenditures by the Secretary to provide, directly or through a competitive grant process, research, training, and technical assistance, including dissemination of research and information regarding effective and promising practices, providing consultation and resources, and developing resources and materials to support the activities of recipients of grants. In carrying out such functions, the Secretary shall collaborate with a variety of entities that have expertise in adolescent sexual health development, education, and promotion. (d) Reprogramming of abstinence only until marriage program funding The unobligated balance of funds made available to carry out section 510 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 710 (e) Repeal of abstinence only until marriage program Section 510 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 710

Summary: Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with the Department of Education, to award grants for: (1) comprehensive sex education for adolescents, (2) comprehensive sex education provided by institutions of higher education, and (3) training faculty and staff to teach comprehensive sex education to adolescents. HHS must enter a contract with a nonprofit organization to evaluate and report on these grants. The bill makes appropriations to carry out the the bill. Grants may not be used for health education programs that: withhold health-promoting or lifesaving information about sexuality-related topics, including HIV; are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective; promote gender or racial stereotypes; are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of certain youth, including survivors of sexual abuse or assault, sexually active youth, pregnant or parenting youth, or individuals with varying gender identities or sexual orientations; or are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise requirements and eliminate prohibitions regarding the content of educational programs funded through the AIDS prevention program. The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow funding to be used for: (1) materials or programs that promote or encourage sexual activity, and (2) contraceptive distribution in schools. The bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to repeal the program for abstinence education. Unobligated funds for abstinence education are transferred and made available to carry out this bill.