Senate Bill 2563

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION TO ADDRESS THE PREVENTION OF UNPLANNED PREGNANCY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Vital Records/Public Health Services, Mississippi recorded five thousand six hundred forty-four (5,644) pregnancies among teenage residents in 2012. Of those pregnancies, three thousand nine hundred thirteen (3,913) were among young women ages eighteen (18) through nineteen (19). Community colleges and universities in Mississippi provide a critical venue to address the prevention of unplanned pregnancies among a significant number of older teens.

(2) The Commissioner of Higher Education and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board, in collaboration with all public university and community college presidents or their chosen representatives and designees, shall develop a plan of action to address the prevention of unintended and unmarried pregnancies among older teens by November 3, 2014. All state agencies are directed to fully cooperate with this effort and provide such reasonable assistance, information and data as necessary.

(3) The plan of action developed in accordance with subsection (1) of this section must include a plan of action for each of the following:

(a) Incorporation of unplanned pregnancy prevention into student success courses and orientation;

(b) Integration of information about the prevention of unplanned pregnancy into academic courses if and when appropriate;

(c) Identification of opportunities to raise awareness and provide resources about the prevention of unplanned pregnancies across the entire student population;

(d) Identification of opportunities for existing students to reach out to younger teens to serve as mentors and/or role models of successful behaviors and healthy choices, including any opportunities for outreach during the summer vacation or during traditional K-12 after-school hours;

(e) Identification of any private or federal grants available to address the prevention of unplanned pregnancy and promote student success, including any partnerships necessary to successfully compete for such grants;

(f) Collaboration with community health centers and/or federally qualified health centers to promote access to care;

(g) Identification of child care, transportation, financial aid and other challenges specific to existing single parents; and

(h) Identification of such other topics or issues relating to the prevention and reduction of unplanned pregnancies among older teens.

(4) The commissioner and executive director shall present the plan of action to the Legislature upon its completion, no later than November 3, 2014.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.