§ 713. Personal responsibility education

5,519 words·~25 min read·/usc/title-42/section-713

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Allotments to States

(1)Amount

(A)In general For the purpose described in subsection (b), subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2026, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026, the Secretary shall allot to each State an amount equal to the product of—

(i)the amount appropriated under subsection

(f)for the fiscal year or period and available for allotments to States after the application of subsection (c); and

(ii)the State youth population percentage determined under paragraph (2).

(B)Minimum allotment

(i)In general Each State allotment under this paragraph for a fiscal year shall be at least $250,000. The previous sentence shall not apply with respect to State allotments under this paragraph for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026.

(ii)Pro rata adjustments The Secretary shall adjust on a pro rata basis the amount of the State allotments determined under this paragraph for a fiscal year to the extent necessary to comply with clause (i).

(C)Application required to access allotments

(i)In general A State shall not be paid from its allotment for a fiscal year or period described in subparagraph

(A)unless the State submits an application to the Secretary for the fiscal year or period and the Secretary approves the application (or requires changes to the application that the State satisfies) and meets such additional requirements as the Secretary may specify.

(ii)Requirements The State application shall contain an assurance that the State has complied with the requirements of this section in preparing and submitting the application and shall include the following as well as such additional information as the Secretary may require:

(I)Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, the most recent pregnancy rates for the State for youth ages 10 to 14 and youth ages 15 to 19 for which data are available, the most recent birth rates for such youth populations in the State for which data are available, and trends in those rates for the most recently preceding 5-year period for which such data are available.

(II)State-established goals for reducing the pregnancy rates and birth rates for such youth populations.

(III)A description of the State’s plan for using the State allotments provided under this section to achieve such goals, especially among youth populations that are the most high-risk or vulnerable for pregnancies or otherwise have special circumstances, including youth in foster care, homeless youth, youth with HIV/AIDS, pregnant youth who are under 21 years of age, mothers who are under 21 years of age, and youth residing in areas with high birth rates for youth.

(2)State youth population percentage

(A)In general For purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii), the State youth population percentage is, with respect to a State, the proportion (expressed as a percentage) of—

(i)the number of individuals who have attained age 10 but not attained age 20 in the State; to

(ii)the number of such individuals in all States.

(B)Determination of number of youth The number of individuals described in clauses

(i)and

(ii)of subparagraph

(A)in a State shall be determined on the basis of the most recent Bureau of the Census data.

(3)Availability of State allotments Subject to paragraph (4)(A), amounts allotted to a State pursuant to this subsection for a fiscal year or period described in paragraph (1)(A) shall remain available for expenditure by the State through the end of the second fiscal year following such fiscal year or period.

(4)Authority to award grants from State allotments to local organizations and entities in nonparticipating States

(A)Grants from unexpended allotments If a State does not submit an application under this section for fiscal year 2010 or 2011, the State shall no longer be eligible to submit an application to receive funds from the amounts allotted for the State for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2023 and for each period described in paragraph (1)(A) and such amounts shall be used by the Secretary to award grants under this paragraph for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2023 and for each period so described. The Secretary also shall use any amounts from the allotments of States that submit applications under this section for a fiscal year or period so described that remain unexpended as of the end of the period in which the allotments are available for expenditure under paragraph

(3)for awarding grants under this paragraph.

(B)Competitive prep grants

(i)In general The Secretary shall continue through each period described in paragraph (1)(A) grants awarded for any of fiscal years 2015 through 2017 to local organizations and entities to conduct, consistent with subsection (b), programs and activities in States that do not submit an application for an allotment under this section for fiscal year 2010 or 2011.

(ii)Faith-based organizations or consortia The Secretary may solicit and award grants under this paragraph to faith-based organizations or consortia.

(C)Evaluation An organization or entity awarded a grant under this paragraph shall agree to participate in a rigorous Federal evaluation.

(5)Maintenance of effort No payment shall be made to a State from the allotment determined for the State under this subsection or to a local organization or entity awarded a grant under paragraph (4), if the expenditure of non-federal funds by the State, organization, or entity for activities, programs, or initiatives for which amounts from allotments and grants under this subsection may be expended is less than the amount expended by the State, organization, or entity for such programs or initiatives for fiscal year 2009.

(6)Data collection and reporting A State or local organization or entity receiving funds under this section shall cooperate with such requirements relating to the collection of data and information and reporting on outcomes regarding the programs and activities carried out with such funds, as the Secretary shall specify.

(b)Purpose

(1)In general The purpose of an allotment under subsection (a)(1) to a State is to enable the State (or, in the case of grants made under subsection (a)(4)(B), to enable a local organization or entity) to carry out personal responsibility education programs consistent with this subsection.

(2)Personal responsibility education programs

(A)In general In this section, the term “personal responsibility education program” means a program that is designed to educate adolescents on—

(i)both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, consistent with the requirements of subparagraph (B); and

(ii)at least 3 of the adulthood preparation subjects described in subparagraph (C).

(B)Requirements The requirements of this subparagraph are the following:

(i)The program replicates evidence-based effective programs or substantially incorporates elements of effective programs that have been proven on the basis of rigorous scientific research to change behavior, which means delaying sexual activity, increasing condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, or reducing pregnancy among youth.

(ii)The program is medically-accurate and complete.

(iii)The program includes activities to educate youth who are sexually active regarding responsible sexual behavior with respect to both abstinence and the use of contraception.

(iv)The program places substantial emphasis on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy among youth and sexually transmitted infections.

(v)The program provides age-appropriate information and activities.

(vi)The information and activities carried out under the program are provided in the cultural context that is most appropriate for individuals in the particular population group to which they are directed.

(C)Adulthood preparation subjects The adulthood preparation subjects described in this subparagraph are the following:

(i)Healthy relationships, including marriage and family interactions.

(ii)Adolescent development, such as the development of healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and development, body image, racial and ethnic diversity, and other related subjects.

(iii)Financial literacy.

(iv)Parent-child communication.

(v)Educational and career success, such as developing skills for employment preparation, job seeking, independent living, financial self-sufficiency, and workplace productivity.

(vi)Healthy life skills, such as goal-setting, decision making, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, and stress management.

(c)Reservations of funds

(1)Grants to implement innovative strategies Subject to paragraph (3), from the amount appropriated under subsection

(f)for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 of such amount for purposes of awarding grants to entities to implement innovative youth pregnancy prevention strategies and target services to high-risk, vulnerable, and culturally under-represented youth populations, including youth in foster care, homeless youth, youth with HIV/AIDS, victims of human trafficking, pregnant women who are under 21 years of age and their partners, mothers who are under 21 years of age and their partners, and youth residing in areas with high birth rates for youth. An entity awarded a grant under this paragraph shall agree to participate in a rigorous Federal evaluation of the activities carried out with grant funds.

(2)Other reservations Subject to paragraph (3), from the amount appropriated under subsection

(f)for the fiscal year that remains after the application of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve the following amounts:

(A)Grants for Indian tribes or tribal organizations The Secretary shall reserve 5 percent of such remainder for purposes of awarding grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations in such manner, and subject to such requirements, as the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, determines appropriate.

(B)Secretarial responsibilities

(i)Reservation of funds The Secretary shall reserve 10 percent of such remainder for expenditures by the Secretary for the activities described in clauses

(ii)and (iii).

(ii)Program support The Secretary shall provide, directly or through a competitive grant process, research, training and technical assistance, including dissemination of research and information regarding effective and promising practices, providing consultation and resources on a broad array of teen pregnancy prevention strategies, including abstinence and contraception, and developing resources and materials to support the activities of recipients of grants and other State, tribal, and community organizations working to reduce teen pregnancy. In carrying out such functions, the Secretary shall collaborate with a variety of entities that have expertise in the prevention of teen pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, healthy relationships, financial literacy, and other topics addressed through the personal responsibility education programs.

(iii)Evaluation The Secretary shall evaluate the programs and activities carried out with funds made available through allotments or grants under this section.

(3)Exception Paragraphs

(1)and

(2)shall not apply with respect to any amount appropriated under subsection

(f)for a period described in subsection (a)(1)(A) for fiscal year 2027.

(d)Administration

(1)In general The Secretary shall administer this section through the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services.

(2)Application of other provisions of subchapter

(A)In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the other provisions of this subchapter shall not apply to allotments or grants made under this section.

(B)Exceptions The following provisions of this subchapter shall apply to allotments and grants made under this section to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to allotments made under section 702(c) of this title:

(i)Section 704(b)(6) of this title (relating to prohibition on payments to excluded individuals and entities).

(ii)Section 704(c) of this title (relating to the use of funds for the purchase of technical assistance).

(iii)Section 704(d) of this title (relating to a limitation on administrative expenditures).

(iv)Section 706 of this title (relating to reports and audits), but only to the extent determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for grants made under this section.

(v)Section 707 of this title (relating to penalties for false statements).

(vi)Section 708 of this title (relating to nondiscrimination).

(e)Definitions In this section:

(1)Age-appropriate The term “age-appropriate”, with respect to the information in pregnancy prevention, means topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

(2)Medically accurate and complete The term “medically accurate and complete” means verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and—

(A)published in peer-reviewed journals, where applicable; or

(B)comprising information that leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete.

(3)Indian tribes; Tribal organizations The terms “Indian tribe” and “Tribal organization” have the meanings given such terms in section 1603 of title 25.

(4)Youth The term “youth” means an individual who has attained age 10 but has not attained age 20.

(f)Appropriation For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2026, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026, an amount equal to the pro rata portion of the amount appropriated for the corresponding period for fiscal year 2026. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title V, § 513, as added and amended Pub. L. 111–148, title II, § 2953, title X, § 10201(h), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 347, 922; Pub. L. 113–93, title II, § 206, Apr. 1, 2014, 128 Stat. 1046; Pub. L. 114–10, title II, § 215, Apr. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 153; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title V, § 50503(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 227; Pub. L. 116–59, div. B, title II, § 1202, Sept. 27, 2019, 133 Stat. 1104; Pub. L. 116–69, div. B, title II, § 1202, Nov. 21, 2019, 133 Stat. 1137;

Pub. L. 116–94, div. N, title I, § 304, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3113; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3822, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 432; Pub. L. 116–159, div. C, title I, § 2103, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 116–215, div. B, title II, § 1203(b), Dec. 11, 2020, 134 Stat. 1045; Pub. L. 116–260, div. CC, title III, § 302, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2992; Pub. L. 118–15, div. B, title III, § 2353, Sept. 30, 2023, 137 Stat. 97; Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title II, § 403, Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 122;

Pub. L. 118–35, div. B, title I, § 143, Jan. 19, 2024, 138 Stat. 6; Pub. L. 118–42, div. G, title I, § 404, Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 418; Pub. L. 118–158, div. C, title III, § 3302, Dec. 21, 2024, 138 Stat. 1767; Pub. L. 119–4, div. B, title III, § 2302, Mar. 15, 2025, 139 Stat. 45; Pub. L. 119–37, div. F, title III, § 6302, Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 635; Pub. L. 119–75, div. J, title III, § 6302, Feb. 3, 2026, 140 Stat. 685.)

Connections156 cite this · traces to 22

Cited by 156 sections · top 60

public-private-law