MN SF2889

School districts must offer responsible family life and sexuality education in grades 6-12 that is age-appropriate and medically accurate, using an abstinence-first approach while including education on contraception and disease prevention, to be implemented by the 2011-2012 school year.

Parents or guardians may excuse their children from all or part of the sexuality education program, and school districts must provide alternative instruction without academic penalties and must consult with parents when establishing curriculum policies.

School districts must establish policies to provide reasonable notice to parents about the sexuality education program, including curriculum materials, instructors, and parental opt-out procedures, and must restrict public access to educational materials for students whose parents have requested exemption.

The commissioner of health must design and implement a statewide HIV transmission awareness campaign and conduct an assessment to develop a plan for reducing sexually transmitted infection rates, with a report due to the legislature by January 15, 2011.

$4.5 million is appropriated for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009: $3 million for family planning special project grants to prevent unintended pregnancies and STIs/HIV, and $1.5 million for detection and treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhea and community education on STI health consequences.