Bill Text: TX SB410 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the public school health curriculum in certain grade levels.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-04 - Referred to Public Education [SB410 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB410-Engrossed.html
By: Paxton, Middleton | S.B. No. 410 |
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relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the | ||
public school health curriculum in certain grade levels. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (x) to read as follows: | ||
(x) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring | ||
students enrolled in grade levels seven and eight to receive | ||
instruction on fetal development as part of the essential knowledge | ||
and skills for the health curriculum required under Subsection | ||
(a)(2)(B). The instruction must include: | ||
(1) information on: | ||
(A) the human reproductive process, pregnancy, | ||
and infertility; and | ||
(B) the prevention of birth defects, including | ||
information on the effect of drugs, alcohol, and environmental | ||
hazards such as lead; and | ||
(2) a description of the growth and development of an | ||
unborn child that occur during each trimester of pregnancy. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 28.004(c), Education Code, is 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: | ||
(A) health education in kindergarten through | ||
grade eight; and | ||
(B) if the school district requires health | ||
education for high school graduation, health education, including | ||
physical health education and mental health education, in grades 9 | ||
through 12; | ||
(2) policies, procedures, strategies, and curriculum | ||
appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent physical | ||
health concerns, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 | ||
diabetes, and mental health concerns, including suicide, through | ||
coordination of: | ||
(A) health education, which must address | ||
physical health concerns and mental health concerns to ensure the | ||
integration of physical health education and mental health | ||
education; | ||
(B) physical education and physical activity; | ||
(C) nutrition services; | ||
(D) parental involvement; | ||
(E) instruction on substance abuse prevention; | ||
(F) school health services, including mental | ||
health services; | ||
(G) a comprehensive school counseling program | ||
under Section 33.005; | ||
(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, including physical | ||
health services and mental health services, if provided at a campus | ||
by the district or by a third party under a contract with the | ||
district; | ||
(B) a comprehensive school counseling program | ||
under Section 33.005; | ||
(C) a safe and healthy school environment; and | ||
(D) school employee wellness; | ||
(5) if feasible, joint use agreements or strategies | ||
for collaboration between the school district and community | ||
organizations or agencies; | ||
(6) strategies to increase parental awareness | ||
regarding: | ||
(A) risky behaviors and early warning signs of | ||
suicide risks and behavioral health concerns, including mental | ||
health disorders and substance use disorders; and | ||
(B) available community programs and services | ||
that address risky behaviors, suicide risks, and behavioral health | ||
concerns; | ||
(7) appropriate grade levels and curriculum for | ||
instruction regarding opioid addiction and abuse and methods of | ||
administering an opioid antagonist, as defined by Section 483.101, | ||
Health and Safety Code; [ |
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(8) appropriate grade levels and curriculum for | ||
instruction regarding child abuse, family violence, dating | ||
violence, and sex trafficking, including likely warning signs that | ||
a child may be at risk for sex trafficking, provided that the local | ||
school health advisory council's recommendations under this | ||
subdivision do not conflict with the essential knowledge and skills | ||
developed by the State Board of Education under this subchapter; | ||
and | ||
(9) appropriate curriculum for the instruction on | ||
fetal development described by Section 28.002(x), provided that the | ||
local school health advisory council's recommendations under this | ||
subdivision do not conflict with the essential knowledge and skills | ||
developed by the State Board of Education under this subchapter. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 | ||
school year. | ||
SECTION 4. 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, 2023. |