85R9642 KJE-F

By: Watson S.B. No. 1104

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to human sexuality education in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0043 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0043. HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION. (a) In this section:

(1) "Age appropriate" means topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children or adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

(2) "Medically accurate" means supported by peer-reviewed research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and recognized as accurate by leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant experience, such as the American Medical Association.

(b) A school district shall provide human sexuality education in accordance with this section at grade levels specified by the State Board of Education.

(c) The State Board of Education by rule shall adopt the essential knowledge and skills for medically accurate, age-appropriate curriculum to be used by a school district in providing human sexuality education under this section. As age appropriate, the curriculum must:

(1) cover human sexuality, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections;

(2) discuss human sexuality as a normal and healthy aspect of human development;

(3) present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons of school age;

(4) devote sufficient attention to abstinence from sexual activity to emphasize the importance of abstinence;

(5) emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity, if used consistently and correctly, is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections;

(6) provide information about the health benefits, side effects, and proper use of the methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for preventing unintended pregnancy and reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections; and

(7) promote relationship, communication, and decision-making skills, including strategies to:

(A) develop healthy, age-appropriate relationships;

(B) develop healthy life skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, effective communication, and responsible decision making about sexuality and relationships; and

(C) promote effective communication between adolescents and their parents, legal guardians, or other family members about sexuality and relationships.

(d) A school district may separate students according to sex when providing instruction under this section.

(e) A school district shall make all curriculum materials used in the district's human sexuality education available for reasonable public inspection.

(f) A school district shall adopt a policy regarding whether condoms may be distributed in connection with human sexuality education.

(g) A student shall be excused from human sexuality education on the written request of a parent or legal guardian without being subjected to any disciplinary action, academic penalty, or other sanction imposed by the school district or the student's school.

(h) Before each school year, a school district shall provide written notice to a parent of each student enrolled in the district of the intent to provide human sexuality education under this section. The notice must include:

(1) a summary of the basic content of the human sexuality education to be provided to the student;

(2) the district's policy on the distribution of condoms in connection with human sexuality education; and

(3) a statement of the parent's right to:

(A) review curriculum materials as provided by Subsection (e); and

(B) remove the student from any part of the district's human sexuality education as provided by Subsection (g).

SECTION 2. Section 12.104(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) An open-enrollment charter school is subject to:

(1) a provision of this title establishing a criminal offense; and

(2) a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this title, relating to:

(A) the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;

(B) criminal history records under Subchapter C, Chapter 22;

(C) reading instruments and accelerated reading instruction programs under Section 28.006;

(D) accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211;

(E) high school graduation requirements under Section 28.025;

(F) special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29;

(G) bilingual education under Subchapter B, Chapter 29;

(H) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E or E-1, Chapter 29;

(I) extracurricular activities under Section 33.081;

(J) discipline management practices or behavior management techniques under Section 37.0021;

(K) health and safety under Chapter 38;

(L) public school accountability under Subchapters B, C, D, E, F, G, and J, Chapter 39;

(M) the requirement under Section 21.006 to report an educator's misconduct;

(N) intensive programs of instruction under Section 28.0213; [and]

(O) the right of a school employee to report a crime, as provided by Section 37.148; and

(P) human sexuality education under Section 28.0043.

SECTION 3. Sections 28.004(c) and (n), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(c) The local school health advisory council's duties include recommending:

(1) the number of hours of instruction to be provided in health education;

(2) policies, procedures, strategies, and curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and mental health concerns through coordination of:

(A) health education;

(B) physical education and physical activity;

(C) nutrition services;

(D) parental involvement;

(E) instruction to prevent the use of tobacco;

(F) school health services;

(G) counseling and guidance services;

(H) a safe and healthy school environment; and

(I) school employee wellness;

(3) [appropriate grade levels and methods of instruction for human sexuality instruction;

[(4)] strategies for integrating the curriculum components specified by Subdivision (2) with the following elements in a coordinated school health program for the district:

(A) school health services;

(B) counseling and guidance services;

(C) a safe and healthy school environment; and

(D) school employee wellness; and

(4) [(5)] if feasible, joint use agreements or strategies for collaboration between the school district and community organizations or agencies.

(n) Any joint use agreement that a school district and community organization or agency enter into based on a recommendation of the local school health advisory council under Subsection (c)(4) [(c)(5)] must address liability for the school district and community organization or agency in the agreement.

SECTION 4. Sections 28.004(e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (i-1), and (j), Education Code, are repealed.

SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.