The Assembly Education Committee advanced SB 608 on a 6-1 vote after initially leaving the bill on call, moving the measure to the Health Committee.
The bill, heard June 17 in the committee, would prevent schools serving grades 7 through 12 from blocking health centers from providing condoms or from stopping condom distribution during educational or public health discussions. In the hearing, the bill’s author said the measure also would direct the Department of Education to help implement the California Healthy Youth Act.
Supporters included a student from DaVinci High School in Hawthorne and representatives of the California School-based Health Alliance, who argued the policy would remove barriers for young people seeking sexual-health resources. Opponents from the California Family Council and California Baptist Capital Ministry said the bill would undercut parental authority and local control.
The committee first left the bill on call before later approving it. The hearing transcript does not identify the sole dissenting member or indicate whether any additional amendments were adopted before the final vote.
