G-CAPP Policy and Advocacy News

The 2008 Georgia General Assembly Session Has Concluded
For a complete wrap-up of legislation impacting adolescents and public health from the 2008 Georgia General Assembly Session, click here. The Governor has 40 days from the day of a bill’s passage to sign or veto the bill, or to let a bill become law without his signature.

Bills going before the Governor include:

SR 445 creates the Joint Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors Study Commission to examine the growing problem of child prostitution in Georgia. In addition, the 2009 budget includes $560,000 in new funding for a metro-Atlanta regional assessment center for the victims of child prositution.

HB 89 allows people with concealed weapons permits to carry guns in public places such as parks, on public transportation and in restaurants that serve alcohol. Advocates are concerned about the potential impact of this bill on the safety of children and youth, such as those who ride public transit to school and work.

2009 budget highlights:

The budget includes $1.1 million, which will be matched by federal funds, for extending Medicaid coverage for foster care youth until the age of 21.

The budget restores $20 million in federal TANF dollars for subsidies to help low-income families afford quality child care and afterschool care, so that children will have a safe place to go while their parents are at work.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
To read final versions of legislation, visit the General Assembly web site and search by the bill number in the top right hand corner of the page. You may also find information for contacting the Governor here.

Teen Communication
A new Child Trends study finds that only half of teens discuss contraception or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) with a partner prior to having sex for the first time. White and Hispanic teens were less likely than African American teens, and males were less likely than females, to discuss contraception with their partners.

Teens who talk to their partners about contraception and STIs before engaging in sex are more likely to use contraception when they do have sex, thereby reducing their risk for unintended pregnancies and STI transmission. In the study, teens were more likely to communicate with their partners if they had high levels of communication with their parents and felt knowledgeable about contraception. The researchers recommend that parents maintain open communication with their children about a wide range of issues not limited to sex, and that programs target vulnerable groups, including males, to increase their knowledge about contraceptive methods and improve their communication skills.

G-CAPP Fast Fact
G-CAPP’s 13th Annual Premiere is taking place on May 12, 2008. For more information click here.