HD39 - Teenage Pregnancy

  • Published: 1987
  • Author: General Assembly. Joint subcommittee
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 61 (Regular Session, 1986)

Executive Summary:
HISTORY

During the 1986 Session of the General Assembly, several legislative proposals were introduced which reflected the growing concern regarding the problem of teenage pregnancy and its ensuing ramifications. In response to this concern, the Legislature passed House Joint Resolution No. 61, which established a joint subcommittee to study the problem of teenage pregnancy in the Commonwealth. The Joint Subcommittee was asked to develop recommendations to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy through means such as, but not limited to, education, service delivery and financial responsibility.

Members of the Joint Subcommittee were Delegates Shirley F. Cooper of Yorktown, W. Henry Maxwell of Newport News, Joan H. Munford of Blacksburg, and S. Vance Wilkins, Jr., of Amherst, and Senators Joseph V. Gartlan, Jr., of Fairfax and Elliot S. Schewel of Lynchburg. Delegate Joan H. Munford and Senator Elliot S. Schewel served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively.

ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE

The Joint Subcommittee planned to ascertain the extent of the problem of teenage pregnancy in Virginia and how the Commonwealth compares nationally, the determinants of teenage pregnancy, the sense of the public regarding the problem, and possible preventive strategies for the problem. To accomplish these tasks, the Joint Subcommittee held two public hearings and several meetings wherein it received testimony from the public, many interest groups, and various experts in the fields of health and medicine, social work, psychology, education, law, religion, counseling and federal, state and local government as well as Congressional representatives. Some members also held town meetings in their jurisdictions with constituents. The Joint Subcommittee's staff, as did members, received and responded to a deluge of correspondence and calls from virtually every corner of the Commonwealth. Also, to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of the problem, the Joint Subcommittee reviewed the preliminary staff report, issue papers and considerable research data, which were provided by the staff. The Joint Subcommittee determined that many factors contribute to teenage pregnancy, and that a single solution will not solve the problem.