SECTIONS 51880-51881.5 - California Statutes

EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 51880-51881.5

51880. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1977.

51881. The Legislature finds and declares that although many of the
communicable diseases and environmental hazards which plagued
earlier generations have been controlled, major health problems and
hazards are prevalent among today's school-age children and youth
including the abuse of alcohol, narcotics, and tobacco; emotional
instability; forced marriage; self-medication; dental caries;
nutritional disorders; suicide; and accidents.
The Legislature finds and declares that an adequate health
education program in the public schools is essential to continued
progress and improvement in the quality of public health in this
state, and the Legislature further believes that comprehensive health
education, taught by properly trained persons, is effective in the
prevention of disease and disability.
It is further the intent of the Legislature that, to the maximum
extent possible, the present state-funded projects in the school
health unit of the Department of Education shall be redirected to
carrying out the provisions of this chapter and maximum use shall be
made of existing state and federal funds in the implementation of
comprehensive health education.

51881.5. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that hazardous
substances, as defined in Section 25316 of the Health and Safety
Code, are an integral part of daily life, and that some substances,
which are routinely found in and around homes, present potential
hazards to the public and to the environment because of the lack of
public awareness and education on the hazards of these substances and
because of the lack of safe disposal options for hazardous
substances from households.
(b) The Legislature, therefore, finds that hazardous substances
education programs in the public schools would serve a beneficial
purpose by fostering in students an understanding of their role in
protecting the environment, and in safeguarding themselves from other
health and safety dangers which may be posed by hazardous
substances.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department
provide school districts with information concerning the availability
of educational materials and curricula on hazardous substances.