New Bill Would Require Written Permission For Sex Education
A new bill from Rep. Brad Dee’s HB447 (R-Ogden) would require schools to get written permission from parents before students could be instructed in topics of human sexuality — including reproduction, childbirth, marriage, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
State school board policy already requires student to opt in to sex education classes, rather than simply allowing them to opt out.
But opponents of the bill are saying that it is is unnecessary and too broad.
Marina Lowe, an attorney with the ACLU of Utah, suggested the bill’s overly broad definition of human sexuality could interfere with instruction in other academic subjects. An an example, she stated that the bill could be interpreted to require parental consent before an English class reads “The Scarlet Letter” or a biology class studies anatomy.
“I think this broadened definition is problematic,” she said.
The committee voted to approve the bill. It now goes before the full House for consideration.
