42 USC 710 - Sexual risk avoidance education

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 24, 2025

§ 710.

Sexual risk avoidance education

(a)

In general

(1)

Allotments to States

For the purpose described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall, for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023, for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, for the period beginning on March 9, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2024, and for fiscal year 2025, allot to each State which has transmitted an application for the fiscal year (or, with respect to the applicable period, for fiscal year 2024) under section 705(a) of this title an amount equal to the product of—

(A)

the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection (f)(1) for the fiscal year or period, minus the amount reserved under subsection (f)(2) for the fiscal year or period; and

(B)

the proportion that the number of low-income children in the State bears to the total of such numbers of children for all the States.

(2)

Other allotments

(A)

Other entities

(B)

Process

The Secretary shall select the recipients of allotments under subparagraph (A) by means of a competitive grant process under which—

(i)

not later than 30 days after the deadline for the State involved to submit an application for the fiscal year (or, with respect to fiscal year 2024 or 2025, for the applicable period described in paragraph (1)) under section 705(a) of this title, the Secretary publishes a notice soliciting grant applications; and

(ii)

not later than 120 days after such deadline, all such applications must be submitted.

(b)

Purpose

(1)

In general

(2)

Required components

Education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall—

(A)

ensure that the unambiguous and primary emphasis and context for each topic described in paragraph (3) is a message to youth that normalizes the optimal health behavior of avoiding nonmarital sexual activity;

(B)

be medically accurate and complete;

(C)

be age-appropriate;

(D)

be based on adolescent learning and developmental theories for the age group receiving the education; and

(E)

be culturally appropriate, recognizing the experiences of youth from diverse communities, backgrounds, and experiences.

(3)

Topics

Education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall address each of the following topics:

(A)

The holistic individual and societal benefits associated with personal responsibility, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decisionmaking, and a focus on the future.

(B)

The advantage of refraining from nonmarital sexual activity in order to improve the future prospects and physical and emotional health of youth.

(C)

The increased likelihood of avoiding poverty when youth attain self-sufficiency and emotional maturity before engaging in sexual activity.

(D)

The foundational components of healthy relationships and their impact on the formation of healthy marriages and safe and stable families.

(E)

How other youth risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol usage, increase the risk for teen sex.

(F)

How to resist and avoid, and receive help regarding, sexual coercion and dating violence, recognizing that even with consent teen sex remains a youth risk behavior.

(4)

Contraception

Education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall ensure that—

(A)

any information provided on contraception is medically accurate and complete and ensures that students understand that contraception offers physical risk reduction, but not risk elimination; and

(B)

the education does not include demonstrations, simulations, or distribution of contraceptive devices.

(5)

Research

(A)

In general

(B)

Requirements

Any research conducted or supported pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be—

(i)

rigorous;

(ii)

evidence-based; and

(iii)

designed and conducted by independent researchers who have experience in conducting and publishing research in peer-reviewed outlets.

(6)

Information collection and reporting

A State or other entity receiving an allotment pursuant to subsection (a) shall, as specified by the Secretary—

(A)

collect information on the programs and activities funded through the allotment; and

(B)

submit reports to the Secretary on the data from such programs and activities.

(c)

National evaluation

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall—

(A)

in consultation with appropriate State and local agencies, conduct one or more rigorous evaluations of the education funded through this section and associated data; and

(B)

submit a report to the Congress on the results of such evaluations, together with a summary of the information collected pursuant to subsection (b)(6).

(2)

Consultation

(d)

Applicability of certain provisions

(1)

Sections 703, 707, and 708 of this title apply to allotments under subsection (a) to the same extent and in the same manner as such sections apply to allotments under section 702(c) of this title, except that section 703(a) of this title shall be applied by substituting “the total of the sums” for “four-sevenths of the total of the sums”.

(2)

Sections 705 and 706 of this title apply to allotments under subsection (a) to the extent determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.

(e)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term “age-appropriate” means suitable (in terms of topics, messages, and teaching methods) to the developmental and social maturity of the particular age or age group of children or adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

(2)

The term “medically accurate and complete” means verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and—

(A)

published in peer-reviewed journals, where applicable; or

(B)

comprising information that leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete.

(3)

The term “rigorous”, with respect to research or evaluation, means using—

(A)

established scientific methods for measuring the impact of an intervention or program model in changing behavior (specifically sexual activity or other sexual risk behaviors), or reducing pregnancy, among youth; or

(B)

other evidence-based methodologies established by the Secretary for purposes of this section.

(4)

The term “youth” refers to one or more individuals who have attained age 10 but not age 20.

(f)

Funding

(1)

In general

(2)

Reservation

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title V, § 510, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title IX, § 912, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2353; amended Pub. L. 108–40, § 6, June 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 837; Pub. L. 111–148, title II, § 2954, Mar. 23, 2010,

cite as: 42 USC 710