Committee approves bill to ensure teenagers can access condoms in Vermont

Michael Bielawski/TNR

CONTRACEPTIVES FOR YOUNG TEENS: According to the language of H.663, children as young as middle school age must have condoms readily available to them at the campus.

MONTPELIER — The House Human Services Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of a bill that would ensure that secondary education students, including middle-schoolers, have easy access to condoms.

The legislation, H.663, also ensures that sexual education requirements get implemented, and that other forms of birth control become more accessible through medical professionals.

“In order to prevent or reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, each school district shall make condoms available to all students in its secondary schools, free of charge,” the bill language states.

If passed into law, administrative teams from school districts, in consultation with school district nursing staff, would decide on the manner in which to make condoms available to students. At the very least, the bill requires that condoms be placed in locations that are “safe and readily accessible to students, including the school nurse’s office.”

While access to condoms in public schools is already part of Vermont law, not all schools follow through.

The measure also seeks to provide further opportunities “for Vermonters to learn about and obtain contraceptives in order to prevent or reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.”

Rep. Jessica Brumsted, D-Shelburne, told True North the bill doesn’t stray from existing policy.

“It’s not a change really, because they are already supposed to be doing that, putting out condoms for everyone,” she said. “We want to be sure that all schools are doing this equally.”

Brumsted said one problem is the condoms aren’t always out in the open.

“It may be that they don’t really have them out in a prominent place; you have to go to the nurse and ask her ‘do you have one?’ and then she’s supposed to give it. But it’s not quite as [accessible],” she said.

She noted that this policy will not be enforced in independent schools.

Before the vote, Rep. Carl Rosenquist, R-Georgia, spoke in favor of the bill.

“I think it will reduce the incidence of abortion,” he said, adding that some of his constituents may disagree with him about this measure.

Committee Chair Rep. Ann Pugh, D-South Burlington, also commented before the vote.

“This is not about promoting abortion,” she said, “this is about reducing unintended or unwanted pregnancy.”

The bill’s primary sponsor is Rep. Francis McFaun, R-Barre Town. He told True North that schools are already expected to have sexual education, but this bill would ensure that the state’s education policy is implemented.

He thanked the committee for their support.

“There was a commitment by this committee to move this bill and it makes everything a lot easier,” McFaun said.

According to Brumsted, the bill also would ensure that adults have more access to self-administered hormonal contraceptives, which can be conventional birth control pills or other methods.

“For seventh- through 12th-graders, it would be just condoms. But it’s also trying to ensure equity across the whole system for adults as well, but not with just condoms,” she said.

The original version of H.663 included more than just condoms for secondary students. That version would have required “school districts to make free over-the-counter contraceptives available to all secondary school students and would direct the Department of Health to coordinate with stakeholders to make free over-the-counter contraceptives available in a variety of settings statewide.”

Lucy Leriche, Vermont public affairs representative for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, was present for the vote. She also testified to the committee regarding the bill on Jan. 23.

“PPNNE supports H.663 because it would expand access to contraception and counseling for Vermonters and consequently help to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy,” she said. “We know the unintended pregnancy rate is roughly 43 percent in Vermont.

“Of that 43 percent, however, some are very happy to become pregnant and see it as a wonderful surprise. It is important therefore that we do not use unintended pregnancy as a proxy for unwanted pregnancy.”

According to that testimony, Planned Parenthood is already engaged in sex-education at the secondary level.

“PPNNE runs a high school student peer education program that equips youth with knowledge and decision-making skills to achieve and promote sexual and reproductive health for themselves, their peers, and their communities,” she said.

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.

Image courtesy of Michael Bielawski/TNR

13 thoughts on “Committee approves bill to ensure teenagers can access condoms in Vermont

  1. H.663 eliminates the parent’s right to opt out of having condoms distributed to their child that currently exists in at least some Vermont schools; requires condoms be made available to students 12 years old or possibly younger while ignoring the fact the sexual activity involving those younger than 15 years old is always a violation of Vermont law; and creates a new exception to the mandatory reporting law to free providers from any responsibility to take steps to make sure children are not being sexually exploited. Awful.

  2. Doesn’t this promote WAY EARLY sex, among 6th graders. Teacher says it’s ok, nurse gives me”protection”
    SO No Prob………!!! Brave New World, Animal Farm,

    Nurse teaches the class how to masturbate, all together in the classroom.
    I’ll convince Jill that sex is ok, teacher sez !! But the condom doesn’t even fit !!!

    This not teaching responsible sex between consenting responsible partners –
    Gov’t just said any TIME any PLACE and now any AGE – trying it with your sister ok!!

  3. What of the education of Vermont’s youth but no the legeslature is going to make sure they have rubbers, don’t remember those as being one of the three R’s.

  4. Interesting, the transformation of VT. Looks like anyone can go to a street corner in any town and get drugs and free needles and condoms. Pretty soon the streets will look like the streets of San Francisco. Change the State motto from “The Green Mountain State”, to the “Brown Street State”. That’s the Liberal way.

    • It’s the Brown Shirt Economic Revival, propagated by the “Progressives”

      Decriminalize Sex Workers, Legalize Drug Trade, Build massive community funded housing for the Pimps and Dealers to live in for little or nothing.

      What could possibly go wrong?

      And if people are really struggling do PSA’s promoting the buying of Lottery Tickets,…….we only have to repeat the utter insanity proposed by the progressives for people to realize, hey, maybe this isn’t our best plan.

  5. I don’t suppose the benefits of abstinence are ever taught. Even if a teacher or school nurse believed that abstinence was the best route to take, they probably wouldn’t dare say so. I am so incredibly thankful that I don’t have children in the public school system. Does the cost of educating a student in Vermont, somewhere about $15,000 include the cost of the condoms?

  6. Since this will be passed on to the TAXPAYERS in each community, let them vote on it – enough of the mandates from Montpelier.

  7. Why just ms? Why not at pre-k —- same age they are teaching them about all things transgender and lgbt (curriculum coming to a school near you). another outstanding bill passed by this reprobate state govt.

  8. We need a large supply of condoms under the golden dome to stop the spread of stupidity and liberalism that pours out of there

    We need to start to protect vermonters from the Socialist agenda

  9. Children who can’t keep their room clean are going to be responsible in sex? 50% of births are unplanned, do you think promoting more sex is going to lower that?

    Aren’t condoms available at every gas station and convenience store?

    Do the kids not know where they can buy them?

    Too bad we send the wrong message to kids about sex, that it’s only meaningless fun with no consequences.

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