WHEREAS, the incidence of inadequate prenatal care, out-of-wedlock babies, low-birth weight babies, and infant deaths is significantly higher for adolescent mothers; and

       WHEREAS, in 1997, approximately 2,789 Idaho females aged 10 to 19 became pregnant, at a rate of 54 pregnancies per week; and

       WHEREAS, twenty-eight percent of Idaho's adolescent pregnancies are repeat pregnancies; and

       WHEREAS, adolescent childbearing causes delays in school completion or alters the young mother's aspirations for home, school, or career; and

      WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of all Idahoans to prevent unintended adolescent pregnancies; and

       WHEREAS, the most effective response to the problems of adolescent pregnancy is to prevent adolescents from becoming sexually active;

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of this state do hereby continue the Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.

      The duties of the Council shall include:

1. Development and implementation of a statewide campaign focused on delaying sexual activity by adolescents; and
2. Assessing the impact of the campaign on reducing the rate of adolescent pregnancy and reporting the results annually.

      The Council shall be limited to no more that 19 members appointed by the Governor.

      The members shall serve two-year terms. A chair of the Council shall be appointed annually by the Governor.

     The Council members shall include persons representing:

Public health/welfare
Education
Clergy
Private business
Parents
Adolescents
Local elected officials
Health care providers
Media

       The Governor’s Coordinating Council for Families and Children will provide administrative support to the Council.

       This Order replaces Executive Order No. 2003-04.

       This Executive Order shall cease to be effective four years after its entry into force.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-eighth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred-fourteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE