HF 1759 Summary

• Creates a new responsible family life and sexuality education program for grades 6-12 that uses an abstinence-first approach while also covering contraception and disease prevention, with all content being age-appropriate and medically accurate.

• Requires school districts to offer the program and consult with parents when establishing curriculum, with implementation required by the start of the 2018-2019 school year or according to the district's curriculum review cycle, whichever comes first.

• Allows parents or guardians to excuse their children from all or part of the program and requires districts to provide alternative instruction without academic penalties.

• Mandates that districts provide parents reasonable notice of the program, educational materials used, whether instruction is from district personnel or outside consultants, and parents' right to opt out.

• Authorizes the Department of Education and Department of Health to provide training and technical assistance to districts and to seek federal funding from sources including the Office of Adolescent Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 121A.23, which previously required sexually transmitted infection and disease prevention programs.