SB 324

Under current law, a school board may provide an instructional program in

human growth and development in grades kindergarten to 12 that may include

instruction in the following areas: 1) self-esteem, responsible decision making, and

personal responsibility; 2) interpersonal relationships; 3) discouragement of

adolescent sexual activity; and 4) family life and skills required of a parent. The

school board may also provide instruction in human sexuality, reproduction, family

planning, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS), prenatal development, childbirth, adoption, available prenatal

and postnatal support, and male and female responsibility. If a school board offers

instruction in any of these areas, it must also provide instruction in marriage and

parental responsibility.

If a school district offers a human growth and development curriculum, the

school board must appoint an advisory committee composed of parents, teachers,

school administrators, pupils, health care professionals, members of the clergy, and

other residents of the school district to assist the school board with the development,

review, and implementation of the human growth and development curriculum. The

advisory committee must also review the school district's curriculum at least every

three years. Upon the written request of the pupil's parent or guardian, a pupil shall

be exempted from the requirement to complete instruction in human growth and

development.

Under current law, a volunteer health care provider (provider) may apply to the

Department of Administration to be permitted to provide health care services

without charge in a school or nonprofit agency. If the provider wishes to provide

services at a school, the provider must file the application jointly with the school

board or, if the school is a charter school, the governing body of the school. "Volunteer

health care provider" is defined under current law as a physician, dentist or dental

hygienist, registered nurse, practical nurse, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner,

optometrist, physician assistant, or dietitian who receives no income from the

practice of that health care profession or who receives no income from the practice

of that health care profession when providing services at the school. Under current

law, the provider may provide instruction in human growth and development if the

instructional program complies with the requirements above, but may not provide

instruction in human sexuality; reproduction; family planning, including natural

family planning; HIV and AIDS; prenatal development; childbirth; adoption;

available prenatal and postnatal support; and male and female responsibility.

This bill provides that a school board may offer an instructional program in

human growth and development. If the school board offers an instructional program

in human growth and development, the bill requires that the program provide

medically accurate information and, when age appropriate, address all of the

following: 1) communication between the pupil and the pupil's parents or guardians