Text of MA H 275 (2017)

1 of 3 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2039 FILED ON: 1/19/2017 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 275 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Bradley H. Jones, Jr. _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act relative to parental notification. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 20th Middlesex Elizabeth A. Poirier 14th Bristol Susan Williams Gifford 2nd Plymouth Paul K. Frost 7th Worcester Todd M. Smola 1st Hampden F. Jay Barrows 1st Bristol Angelo L. D'Emilia 8th Plymouth Sheila C. Harrington 1st Middlesex Steven S. Howitt 4th Bristol Nicholas A. Boldyga 3rd Hampden Geoff Diehl 7th Plymouth Kevin J. Kuros 8th Worcester 2 of 3 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2039 FILED ON: 1/19/2017 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 275 By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 275) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others relative to parental options of enrolling children in elective courses involving sexual education rather than opting out of mandatory courses. Education. [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION SEE HOUSE, NO. 410 OF 2015-2016.] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court (2017-2018) _______________ An Act relative to parental notification. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 32A of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 2 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in 3 place thereof the following section:- 4 Section 32A. Every city, town, regional school district or vocational school district 5 implementing or maintaining curriculum, or a school sanctioned program or activity, which 6 primarily involves human sexual education, human sexuality issues, or sexual orientation issues 7 shall adopt a written policy ensuring parental or legal guardian notification. 8 Such curriculum programs and activities, which primarily involve human sexual 9 education, human sexuality issues, or sexual orientation, shall be offered only in clearly 3 of 3 10 identified non-mandatory elective courses in which parents or guardians may choose to enroll 11 their children through written notification to the school, in a manner reasonably similar to other 12 elective courses offered by the school district. 13 To the extent practicable, instruction materials and related items for said curriculum, 14 programs, and activities shall be made reasonably accessible to parents, guardians, educators, 15 school administrators, and others for inspection and review. 16 No public school teacher or administrator shall be required to participate in any such 17 curriculum program and activities which primarily involves human sexual education, human 18 sexuality issues, or sexual orientation issues that violate his or her religious beliefs.