It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 16-22-17 and 16-22-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum" are hereby amended to read as follows:

16-22-17. AIDS education program. -- {ADD (a) ADD} The department of elementary and secondary education shall, pursuant to rules promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the director of the department of health, establish comprehensive AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) instruction, which shall provide students with {ADD accurate ADD} information and instruction on AIDS transmission and prevention, and which course shall also address abstinence from sexual activity as a the preferred means of prevention, as a basic education program requirement.

{ADD (b) Upon written request to the school principal, a pupil not less than eighteen (18) years of age or a parent or legal guardian of a pupil less than eighteen (18) years of age, within a reasonable period of time after the request is made, shall be permitted to examine the curriculum program instruction materials at the school in which his or her child is enrolled. ADD}

A parent {ADD or legal ADD} guardian may exempt his or her child from the program by written directive to the principal of the school. {ADD No child so exempted shall be penalized academically by reason of such exemption. ADD}

16-22-18. Health and family life courses. -- {ADD (a) ADD} Every secondary school teaching courses in family life or sex education within this state shall include as part of the course instruction, abstinence from sexual activity and refraining from sexual intercourse as the preferred method of pregnancy prevention, and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

{ADD (b) Upon written request to the school principal, a pupil not less than eighteen (18) years of age or a parent or legal guardian of a pupil less than eighteen (18) years of age, within a reasonable period of time after the request is made, shall be permitted to examine the curriculum program instruction materials at the school in which his or her child is enrolled. ADD}

{ADD A parent or legal guardian may exempt his or her child from the program, by written directive to the principal of the school. No child so exempted shall be penalized academically by reason of such exemption. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.