California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday rejected a bill to make condoms free to all public high school students, arguing it would be too expensive for a state that already has them. fiscal deficit More than $30 billion.
Last year, about 1.9 million high school students in California attended more than 4,000 schools, according to the California Department of Education.
“This bill would create an unfunded mandate for public schools that should be considered during the annual budget process,” Newsom wrote in a message. Senate Bill 541.
The bill is one of hundreds passed by California’s Democratic-dominated state Legislature before lawmakers adjourned last month.Since then, Newsom has been signing and vetoing legislation, including rejecting the bill on Saturday Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of caste, Limit insulin prices and Decriminalize the possession and use of certain hallucinogens.
The bill requires all public schools in grades nine through 12 to provide free condoms to all students. It would require public schools in grades seven through 12 to allow condoms to be provided as part of an education or public health program.
This would make it illegal for retailers to refuse to sell condoms to teenagers.
The bill’s author, Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Los Angeles, believes the bill will help “young people who are determined to be sexually active protect themselves and their partners from sexually transmitted infections” while removing barriers that could Shaming them and leading to unsafe sex. “
Newsom said programs to increase condom access are “important in supporting improvements in youth sexual health.” But he said the bill is one of several measures passed by lawmakers this year that combined will add $19 billion in costs to the state budget.
“As our state faces continued economic risks and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure,” Newsom said.
Also on Sunday, Newsom signed a law aimed at electrifying school buses in the state. Starting in 2035, the law will require any new buses purchased or contracted by school districts to be zero-emission.
California’s public school districts that provide their own transportation have about 15,800 school buses, 10,800 of which are diesel-powered, according to a 2022 report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
The law is part of California’s plan to phase out the use of fossil fuels.National regulations will Ban on sales of new gasoline-powered cars in California by 2035.
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