HB 859 Summary

• Public schools providing human sexuality education must deliver comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate information including contraception methods and their effectiveness rates.

• Schools must make sex education curricula available to parents or guardians upon request, and students may be excused from these portions of instruction without disciplinary action or academic penalty.

• Parents or guardians may file complaints with the district superintendent if they believe a school is not compliant, with a 30-day response deadline and appellate review processes through the school board and Commissioner of Education.

• Comprehensive information must address physical development, reproductive health, decision-making skills, healthy relationships, peer pressure resistance, and culturally appropriate content for diverse student backgrounds.

• Repeals section 1003.46 of Florida Statutes relating to previous health education and AIDS instruction requirements; effective July 1, 2016.