Bill Text: FL H1181 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Required Instruction in the Public Schools

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [H1181 Detail]

Download: Florida-2011-H1181-Introduced.html

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HB 1181

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to required instruction in the public
3	schools; amending s. 1003.46, F.S.; requiring each
4	district school board to provide and each high school
5	student to complete specified coursework in human
6	sexuality; defining the term "medically accurate
7	information"; requiring the coursework to be developed by
8	the Department of Education with input from teachers,
9	school administrators, students, parents, and medical
10	professionals; requiring the availability of resource
11	packets containing course content; revising the contents
12	of authorized instruction; authorizing exemption from
13	instruction; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; conforming a
14	cross-reference; providing an effective date.
15
16	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18	Section 1.  Section 1003.46, Florida Statutes, is amended
19	to read:
20	1003.46  Health education; instruction in human sexuality
21	and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.-
22	(1)(a)  Each district school board shall provide and each
23	high school student must complete a 1-week course in human
24	sexuality during each of the 4 years of high school. The 1-week
25	course shall include medically accurate information and focus on
26	the following issues:
27	1.  Abstinence.
28	2.  Contraception.
29	3.  Sexually transmitted diseases, including definitions,
30	symptoms, methods of transmittal, risk factors, and means to
31	control the spread of the diseases.
32	4.  Teen pregnancies.
33	(b)  For the purposes of this section, "medically accurate
34	information" means information supported by the weight of
35	research conducted in compliance with generally accepted
36	scientific methods and recognized as accurate and objective by
37	leading professional organizations and agencies having relevant
38	expertise in the field.
39	(c)  The coursework shall be developed by the Department of
40	Education with input from teachers, school administrators,
41	students, parents, and professionals from the medical field and
42	shall be taught in a uniform method by each school district. The
43	coursework shall inform the students of the availability of
44	information through local and statewide support networks and web
45	portals.
46	(d)  The content of the course in human sexuality shall be
47	available in a resource packet which must be provided by the
48	school guidance counselor to a student upon request. A resource
49	packet may be given to a student only after the guidance
50	counselor has informed the student of its contents.
51	(2)(1)  In addition to the coursework required under
52	subsection (1), each district school board may provide to all
53	public school students instruction in acquired immune deficiency
54	syndrome education as a specific area of health education. Such
55	instruction may include, but is not limited to, the known modes
56	of transmission, signs and symptoms, risk factors associated
57	with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and means used to
58	control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The
59	instruction shall be appropriate for the grade and age of the
60	student and shall reflect current theory, knowledge, and
61	practice regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome and its
62	prevention.
63	(2)  Throughout instruction in acquired immune deficiency
64	syndrome, sexually transmitted diseases, or health education
65	which, when such instruction and course material contains
66	instruction in human sexuality. If, a school provides
67	instruction pursuant to this subsection, the school shall:
68	(a)  Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of
69	marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students
70	while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.
71	(a)(b)  Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is a
72	certain way to avoid unintended out-of-wedlock pregnancy,
73	sexually transmitted diseases, including acquired immune
74	deficiency syndrome, and other associated health problems.
75	(b)(c)  Teach that each student has the power to control
76	personal behavior and encourage students to base actions on
77	reasoning, self-esteem, and respect for others.
78	(c)(d)  Provide instruction and material that is medically
79	and factually accurate and appropriate for the grade and age of
80	the student.
81	(3)  Any student whose parent makes written request to the
82	school principal shall be exempted from the teaching of human
83	sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases. A student so
84	exempted may not be penalized by reason of that exemption.
85	Section 2.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
86	1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
87	1002.20  K-12 student and parent rights.-Parents of public
88	school students must receive accurate and timely information
89	regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed
90	of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
91	students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
92	rights including, but not limited to, the following:
93	(3)  HEALTH ISSUES.-
94	(d)  Reproductive health and disease education.-A public
95	school student whose parent makes written request to the school
96	principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive
97	health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, in accordance with
98	the provisions of ss. s. 1003.42(3) and 1003.46(3).
99	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.