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Senate Bill 283 |
Senate Author: Nelson et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-09 |
House Sponsor: Shelton |
Senate Bill 283 amends the Education Code to specify a minimum of five members to be appointed by a school district board of trustees to the district's local school health advisory council, to require a member who is a parent of a district student to serve as council chair or co‑chair, and to require at least four council meetings per year. The bill requires a school district, before each school year, to provide written notice to a parent of each district student of the board of trustees' decision regarding whether the district will provide human sexuality instruction to district students. If instructions are provided, the notice must include a summary of the basic content of the human sexuality instruction to be provided to the student, including a statement informing the parent of the instructional requirements under state law; a statement of the parent's right to review curriculum materials and remove the student from any part of the instruction without subjecting the student to any disciplinary action, academic penalty, or other district or campus sanction; and information describing opportunities for parental involvement in the development of the curriculum to be used in human sexuality instruction, including information regarding the local school health advisory council.
The bill authorizes a parent to use the grievance procedure concerning a complaint of a violation of any notice requirements. The bill requires the local school health advisory council, in addition to performing other duties, to submit to the board of trustees, at least annually, a written report that includes any council recommendation concerning the school district's health education curriculum and instruction or related matters not previously submitted to the board; any suggested modification to a council recommendation previously submitted; and a detailed explanation of the council's activities during the period between the date of the current report and the date of the preceding report.
The bill requires the local school health advisory council, not later than April 1, 2010, to submit to the board of trustees, in lieu of the report that otherwise would be required, an initial written report that includes any required information and a detailed explanation of the council's activities during the 12-month period preceding the date of the report.