SB 1359 Summary

• Requires all school districts offering sex education to provide medically accurate and comprehensive instruction, including information on laws relating to sexual conduct with minors for grades 7-12.

• Defines "medically accurate" as information verified by peer-reviewed research, recognized by leading professional organizations, and published in peer-reviewed journals when appropriate.

• Defines "comprehensive" as evidence-based programs starting in middle or junior high school through grade 12 covering human development, healthy relationships, decision-making, abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention.

• Allows parents to request that their child be excused from sex education instruction, with school districts required to notify all parents of this opt-out right.

• Makes the Department of Education available to assist school districts upon request by providing suggested courses of study and teacher training on sex education curricula.