Lawmakers Propose Funding For Teen Pregnancy Prevention

DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers want the state to help fund a counseling program aimed at helping prevent teen pregnancy and reducing high-school dropout rates.

The bill got initial approval Thursday on a 10-1 vote in a House committee.

The program is currently operating only on the Western Slope. But the measure seeks to expand it statewide with the help of federal and state funds. It also extends the program's repeal date from 2016 to 2020.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing oversees the program, which emphasizes abstinence and teaches teens how to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. No birth-control is provided.

The proposal, which has bipartisan support, must still clear another committee and a full House vote.

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