HB2040

THE CONTEXT: Before a school district or charter school offers sex education instruction, the school district governing board or charter school governing body must review and approve the sex education course of study, subject to public hearing, comment and review requirements. A school district or charter school with existing sex education curricula must include instruction on laws relating to sexual conduct with a minor for 7th-12th grade students ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would require a public educational institution to provide students information relating to current adoption practices in the United States and where a student may find adoption-related resources and support in Arizona each time an employee of the public educational institution does any of the following in their official capacity: a; discusses contraception, STDs or STIs with students; b; dispenses contraception at the school or to students; or c; provides STD or STI testing to students, instruct each school district or charter school with existing sex education curricula to include instruction on: a; the current adoption practices in the United States; b; adoption-related resources and support in Arizona; and c; the provisions of statute relating to safe havens for newborn infants, and define public educational institution.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give the people who rely on the rule clearer information and a defined reporting process. It would require a public educational institution to provide students information relating to current adoption practices in the United States and where a student may find adoption-related resources and support in Arizona each time an employee of the public educational institution does any of the following in their official capacity: a. discusses contraception, STDs or STIs with students; b. dispenses contraception at the school or to students; or c. provides STD or STI testing to students, and would also instruct each school district or charter school with existing sex education curricula to include instruction on: a. the current adoption practices in the United States; b. adoption-related resources and support in Arizona; and c. the provisions of statute relating to safe havens for newborn infants, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.