HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3000        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 587

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jeffrey Rosario Turco

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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 securing parental consent for human sexuality education.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3000        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 587

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education.

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. The first sentence of Section 32A of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out after the word “primarily” the following words: “ensuring parental/guardian notification. involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues shall adopt a policy Such policy shall afford parents or guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from any portion of said curriculum through written notification to the school principal” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues shall adopt a policy ensuring notification to a parent or guardian, the flexibility to exempt their child/children from any portion of this curriculum, and requiring the consent of the parent or guardian for their child’s participation.

SECTION 2. The first paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence.

SECTION 3. The first sentence of the third paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the following words: “To the extent practicable,” and inserting in place thereof the word:-“All”.

SECTION 4. The first sentence of the third paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “review,” the following words:- at least 21 days before the planned instruction.

SECTION 5. Said Chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after section 32A the following section:-

Section 32B. (a) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall be provided by email, online form, text message, phone call or United States mail at least 21 days before a presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues.

(b) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall explicitly identify the topics of abortion, birth control and laws regarding minors’ reproductive health when these topics are included in a presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues.

(c) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall include the names of agencies to which a student may be referred for reproductive health issues, including birth control, abortion and reproductive health services.

(d) A parent or guardian shall provide consent in writing to the school principal for their child to attend a presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues. No child shall be penalized if their parent or guardian declines to give permission for them to participate in such presentation.

(e) Each school district’s website shall identify objectives related to abortion, birth control and laws for minors’ consent for reproductive health-care services when these topics are included in “Health curriculum,” “Wellness education,” “Personal Responsibility Education Programs” and similar or related programs.

(f) For each violation of this policy and for each child affected, a school district shall pay, as compensation to each aggrieved parent or guardian, the amount of $500.