HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4018        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 662

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joseph D. McKenna

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to instruction in pregnancy and pre-and postnatal care.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4018        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 662

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to instruction in pregnancy and pre-and postnatal care.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.

Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 2C the following new section:

“Section 2D: Pregnancy and pre- and postnatal care

(a)In grades seven, eight, or nine of all public schools, a curriculum developed consistent with the accepted teachings of the National Institute of Health to educate students about the development of the child in utero, shall be taught as a required subject.

(b)Said curriculum shall (1) educate students of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of unborn children at increments of four weeks from fertilization to full term, (2) include visual images, including ultrasound images of fetal development at eight, twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four weeks, and (3) include the basics of prenatal and postnatal care for the purpose of educating students about the real expectations and responsibilities of parenthood.

(c)Each school shall inform at least one parent or guardian of each student at least one week prior to the commencement of such unit of instruction that the parent or guardian has the right to remove the student from the classroom in which the unit of instruction is being presented.

(d)The program of instruction shall include provision for appropriate teacher training.

(e)Each school district and Commonwealth charter school shall file a report regarding pregnancy and prenatal care instruction with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education every two academic years in a format determined by the Board. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following data for each public school district: (1) description of content, (2) approximate number of hours of instruction, and (3) the number of students served annually.”