42 U.S.C. § 710
Section 710 · Separate program for abstinence education
Current version, with additions and removals from the April 1, 2014 version.
(a) In general (1) Allotments to States For the purpose described in subsection (b) of this section, (b), the Secretary shall, for each of fiscal years 2010 2018 through 2015, 2026, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026, allot to each State which has transmitted an application for the fiscal year (or, with respect to the applicable period, for fiscal year 2027) under section 705(a) of this title an amount equal to the product of— (1) (A) the amount appropriated in pursuant to subsection (d) of this section (f)(1) for the fiscal year; 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 For the percentage determined purpose described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall, for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2026 and with respect to fiscal year 2027, for the applicable period described in paragraph (1), for any State which has not transmitted an application for the fiscal year (or, with respect to the applicable period, for fiscal year 2027) under section 702(c)(1)(B)(ii) 705(a) of this title . , allot to one or more entities in the State the amount that would have been allotted to the State under paragraph (1) if the State had submitted such an application. (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 2027, 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 of allotment (1) The In general Except for research under paragraph (5) and information collection and reporting under paragraph (6), the purpose of an allotment under subsection (a) of this section to a State is (or to enable another entity in the State pursuant to provide abstinence education, and at the option of subsection (a)(2)) is to enable the State, where appropriate, mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision State or other entity to promote abstinence implement education exclusively on sexual risk avoidance (meaning voluntarily refraining from sexual activity, with a focus activity). (2) Required components Education on those groups which are most likely sexual risk avoidance pursuant to bear children out-of-wedlock. (2) For purposes of this section, the term “abstinence education” means an educational or motivational program which— allotment under this section shall— (A) has as its exclusive purpose, teaching ensure that the social, psychological, unambiguous and health gains primary emphasis and context for each topic described in paragraph (3) is a message to be realized by abstaining from youth that normalizes the optimal health behavior of avoiding nonmarital sexual activity; (B) teaches abstinence 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 activity outside marriage as risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall address each of the expected standard for all school age children; (C) teaches that abstinence 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 is the only certain way in order to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, improve the future prospects and other associated physical and emotional health problems; (D) teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship of youth. (C) The increased likelihood of avoiding poverty when youth attain self-sufficiency and emotional maturity before engaging in context sexual activity. (D) The foundational components of marriage is healthy relationships and their impact on the expected standard formation of human sexual activity; healthy marriages and safe and stable families. (E) teaches 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 activity outside of 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 context education does not include demonstrations, simulations, or distribution of marriage is likely contraceptive devices. (5) Research (A) In general A State or other entity receiving an allotment pursuant to subsection (a) may use up to 20 percent of such allotment to build the evidence base for sexual risk avoidance education by conducting or supporting research. (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 harmful psychological experience in conducting and physical effects; (F) teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely publishing research in peer-reviewed outlets. (6) Information collection and reporting A State or other entity receiving an allotment pursuant to have harmful consequences for subsection (a) shall, as specified by the child, Secretary— (A) collect information on the child’s parents, and society; (G) teaches young people how to reject sexual advances programs and how alcohol activities funded through the allotment; and drug use increases vulnerability (B) submit reports to sexual advances; and (H) teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity. Secretary on the data from such programs and activities.
(c) Applicability of sections 703, 707, and 708 National evaluation (1) Sections 703, 707, In general The Secretary shall— (A) in consultation with appropriate State and 708 of this title apply to allotments under subsection (a) 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 same extent and in Congress on the same manner as such sections apply to allotments under section 702(c) results of this title . (2) Sections 705 and 706 such evaluations, together with a summary of this title apply the information collected pursuant to allotments under subsection (a) of this section to (b)(6). (2) Consultation In conducting the extent determined evaluations required by paragraph (1), including the establishment of rigorous evaluation methodologies, the Secretary to be appropriate. shall consult with relevant stakeholders and evaluation experts.
(d) Appropriations For the purpose 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 section, there is appropriated, out title , except that section 703(a) of any money in this title shall be applied by substituting “the total of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an additional $50,000,000 sums” for each “four-sevenths of the fiscal years 2010 through 2015. The appropriation under total of the preceding sentence for a fiscal year is made on October 1 sums”. (2) Sections 705 and 706 of this title apply to allotments under subsection (a) to the fiscal year (except that such appropriation shall be made on March 23, 2010, in extent determined by the case of fiscal year 2010). 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
To carry out this section, there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2026, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026, an amount equal to the pro rata portion of the amount appropriated for the corresponding period for fiscal year 2026.
(2) Reservation
The Secretary shall reserve, for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023, and for the applicable period described in paragraph (1), not more than 20 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for administering the program under this section, including the conducting of national evaluations and the provision of technical assistance to the recipients of allotments.