Senate Bill 454 Summary

• Requires instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases in public and accredited nonpublic schools to be factual, medically accurate, and age appropriate, effective July 1, 2013.

• Defines "medically accurate" as information supported by research conducted using accepted scientific methods and recognized as accurate by leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise.

• Mandates comprehensive sexual health education include abstinence as the only certain way to prevent pregnancy and STDs, contraceptive effectiveness information, healthy relationship skills, and respect for marriage and committed relationships.

• Prohibits instruction from teaching or promoting religious doctrine or reflecting bias based on race, color, religion, gender, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.

• Requires schools to notify parents of their right to review curriculum and materials, and grants parents the right to excuse their child from all or part of the instruction.