AB 823

This bill requires a school board that elects to provide an instructional program

in human growth and development to present, when age appropriate, an animated

video of part or all of an abortion procedure.

Under current law, a school board may offer a human growth and development

instructional program to pupils in kindergarten to grade 12. If a school board elects

to offer the instructional program, current law recommends, but does not require,

that the school board include certain topics in the instructional program. If the

school board presents a recommended topic, current law requires the school board

to do certain things during the human growth and development course, when age

appropriate, including 1) presenting abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred

choice of behavior for unmarried pupils, 2) providing instruction in parental

responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and their

children, and 3) explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth. The

bill adds presenting an animated video of part or all of an abortion procedure to this

list of requirements. The bill specifies that the animated video must be approved by

the Department of Health Services under rules promulgated by DHS.

Under current law, a school board that elects to provide a human growth and

development instructional program must annually provide parents and guardians

with an outline of the curriculum used in a pupil's grade level, information regarding

how parents and guardians may inspect the curriculum and instructional materials,

and an explanation of how parents and guardians may exempt a pupil from the

instructional program. Current law allows a pupil's parent or guardian to exempt

the pupil from all or a part of a human growth and development instructional

program by filing a written request with the teacher or school principal.