HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 258 Draft 01 2010-2012 ...........
COUNTY OF HAWAII -+_�� /�•` STATE OF HAWAII
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•RESOLUTION NO. 258 12
A RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCREASE PROGRAMS IN
SEX EDUCATION.
WHEREAS, In the State of Hawaii, statistics show that 84 out of 1,000 teenage girls
become pregnant each year, with only nine states ranking higher; and
WHEREAS, Fifty-two percent of sexually active teens in Hawaii said they did not use a
condom the last time they had sex; and
WHEREAS, Polls show that forty-four percent of Hawai`i teens are sexually active; and
WHEREAS, Teens who become pregnant are less likely to graduate from high school,
with only 32 percent of teen mothers obtaining a diploma by the age of 30; and
WHEREAS, Teen parents and their children are more likely to be single parents, be
subject to a reduced quality of life and need welfare assistance; and
WHEREAS, Children of teen parents are more likely to develop physical and mental
health problems such as low birth weight and mental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Children of teen parents are more likely to be victims of abuse and neglect,
resulting in at-risk behavior, including entering into lives of crime, drugs and low academic
achievement; and
WHEREAS, As a result of these combined factors, many children of teen parents may be
placed into foster care; and
WHEREAS, It is a well-known and documented fact that in countries where sex and
sexual education are less inhibited, safe sex and birth control methods are more appropriately
applied and abortion and unwanted pregnancy is less prevalent; and
WHEREAS, According to Nobel Prize winning philosopher and sociologist Bertrand
Russell, the general public must"I am convinced that complete openness on sexual subjects is
the best way to prevent children from thinking about them excessively, nastily or
unwholesomely, and also the almost indispensable preliminary to an enlightened sexual
morality;" now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
urges the Legislature of the State of Hawai`i to enact legislation directing the Department of
Education to increase sex education programs, which encourage open and natural discussion on
topics of sex and procreation, in all State of Hawai`i High Schools.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED,that the County Clerk send copies of this Resolution to
the Honorable Neil Abercrombie, Governor, State of Hawai`i; The Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui,
President of the Senate, State of Hawai`i; The Honorable Josh M.D. Green, Hawai`i State
Senator; The Honorable Gil Kahele, Hawai`i State Senator; The Honorable Malama Solomon,
Hawai`i State Senator; The Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say, Speaker of the House, State of Hawai`i;
The Honorable Jerry L. Chang, State Representative; The Honorable Denny Coffmann, State
Representative; The Honorable Cindy Evans, State Representative; The Honorable Faye
Hanohano, State Representative; The Honorable Robert N. Herkes, State Representative; The
Honorable Mark M. Nakashima, State Representative; The Honorable Clift Tsuji, State
Representative; Mr. Donald G. Homer, Chair, Board of Education; Director.
Dated at , Hawai`i, this day of , 2012.
INTR
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UCED BY:
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COUNCIL MEMBER, Y OF HAWAI`I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i BLAS
FORD
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the IKEDA
County of Hawai`i on
ONISHI
PILAGO
ATTEST: SMART
YAGONG
YOSHIMOTO
Reference: C-721/Waived GRC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 258 12
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