May 2007 Insider Update: Inside the Dome
Inside the Dome: Ritter Signs Comprehensive Sex Ed Bill! On Monday, May 14, Governor Ritter signed the second piece of pro-choice legislation into law this year. House Bill 1292 (Todd, Windels), Responsible Sex Education, passed the House of Representatives on a 39-26 vote and the Senate by a vote of 21-13. The law establishes standards for comprehensive sex education courses in Colorado, which means our youth will receive information that is scientifically and medically accurate and not based on ideology. The law outlines standards that teach that abstinence from high-risk sexual behavior is the only way to avoid unwanted pregnancy and to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and that provide medically accurate information about the health benefits of contraception. When the gavel dropped to close the 2007 legislative session five days early on May 4, pro-choice activists could point proudly to five major victories this year, including the enactment to two pro-choice measures, the adoption of one pro-choice resolution, and the overwhelming defeat of two anti-choice attacks on women’s health. The final weeks of the session concluded on a high note for reproductive rights and health care advocates as the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to advance women’s health care by approving Senate Joint Resolution 31 (Boyd, Borodkin). Although SJR 31 doesn’t change any laws, it does put legislators on record in support of advancing women’s health by reducing unintended pregnancy. SJR 31, which passed the Senate by a vote of 23-11 and the House by a vote of 39-24, calls on policymakers to develop cost-effective public policies to reduce unintended pregnancy based on a review of empirical research of the barriers and challenges to preventing unintended pregnancy. Earlier in the session, Governor Ritter signed into law SB 60 (Boyd, McGihon): Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors, and NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado led successful efforts to defeat a near-total ban on abortion and a measure that could have given women and doctors the death penalty for choosing or performing an abortion.
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