NCJ Number
120863
Journal
State Legislative Report Volume: 13 Issue: 12 Dated: (April 1988) Pages: 1-6
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report on a 50-State survey provides information on State bills and acts from the 1986-87 legislative sessions, programs, and task force activity related to the problem of teen-age pregnancy.
Abstract
Information was provided by each State's legislative research agency. The survey indicates that recent legislative initiatives address all areas of the problem. Thirty-five States introduced teen-age pregnancy legislation in 1987, compared to 23 in 1985. Although only 9 States had enacted such legislation in 1985, 22 had enacted it by 1987. Legislative task forces to study the problem have been proposed in nearly 25 percent of the States. Legislatively authorized funding for teen-age pregnancy programs is also increasing. The steady increase in teen-age pregnancy legislation reflects two trends. First, bills emphasize coordinating services and programs for the pregnant and parenting teen-age population; for example, legislation requiring State departments to cooperate and integrate new programs with existing services has increased. Second, schools are a focal point for many pregnancy prevention strategies. Such programs include family life education, school-based health clinics, and day care services for parenting students. A chart shows the year various types of legislation related to teen pregnancy and parenting have been enacted in each State.