Bill Tracker

Comprehensive Sexual Health Education

Updated: May 30, 2007

Comprehensive Sexuality Education ALMOST Passes

The comprehensive sexuality education bill made it farther than it ever has before through the legislative process, but unfortunately once again fell short of being signed into law. The comp sex ed language passed off both the House and Senate floors and was included in the overall Education bill. The Education bill was prepared to go to the Senate floor for final passage with the comp sex ed language included, but it was removed in the final moments after Governor Tim Pawlenty signaled his opposition to comp sex ed. Again, legislators who championed this issue deserve our thanks. Rep. Neva Walker and Sen. Sandy Pappas authored the bill and made sure that comp sex ed passed the floor votes of the House and the Senate. Rep. Mindy Greiling and Rep. Carlos Mariani in the House and Sen. Tarryl Clark in the Senate deserve thanks for including the provision in the Education omnibus bill.

Updated: April 27, 2007

TAKE ACTION: Contact Your Elected Official Today!

Support Comprehensive Sex Education

The Education K-12 Conference Committee will decide whether or not to include comprehensive sex education in the final version of the Education Omnibus bill. This bill will be sent to Governor Pawlenty. Please contact the Education Conference Committee members today and ask them to support comprehensive sex education.

Sample Message:
Hi Senator/Representative _________. Please support comprehensive sex education in the Education conference committee. If you have any questions you can contact me at _________. Thank you for your time!

Updated: April 25, 2007

Comprehensive Sex Education Passes Off the House Floor

For the first time, the Responsible Family Life and Sexuality Education bill (now incorporated in the House Education Omnibus Bill (HF 6)) passed the House floor last week! Rep. Neva Walker (DFL-Minneapolis), the bill’s author, offered an amendment changing "opt-in" to language that would allow school districts the option to develop an "opt-in" policy, rather than requiring it. This was proposed as a compromise. The coalition continues to support "opt-out" as the preferred policy and it may still be possible to accomplish this in conference committee. The next step for the comprehensive sex education legislation will be the Education K-12 Conference Committee and then hopefully onto the Governor’s desk.

Updated: April 5, 2007

Comprehensive Sex Education Legislation

The Comprehensive Sex Education legislation was included, for the first time, in the House K-12 Education Finance Omnibus bill. The Omnibus bill did not initially include an “opt-in” provision. However, during the K-12 Education Finance hearing on the Omnibus bill the “opt-in” language was amended, again, to the bill. The Sex Ed for Life (SEFL) coalition does not support this language and will work to remedy this provision in the bill. Both the House and the Senate did not include funding for the regional training sites in the Education Finance bills. This bill is still moving forward.

The Sex Ed for Life Coalition, which MAP co-convenes with the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), is advancing this legislation.

Opt-In Definition: Would require school districts to receive prior written consent from the pupil’s parent or guardian before offering education curriculums.

Opt-Out Definition: Does not require prior written consent for students to participate in classroom curriculum. However, parents and guardians may excuse their child from all or part of education curriculum.

Updated: March 22, 2007

Comprehensive Sex Education Legislation
The Comprehensive Sex Education Legislation has had two hearings since the last MAP Advocate update. On Tuesday, March 20 the House Education Finance committee heard the bill and will now consider it for inclusion in the Omnibus bill. Last week the House Education Policy committee heard the bill. In that hearing members of the committee proposed several compromise amendments, and HF 615 has been amended as follows:

• "Comprehensive" has been changed to read "Responsible" throughout the bill.
• The following language was added "A school district must consult with parents..." when creating policies and procedures.
• The bill is now "opt-in" instead of "opt-out". While the Coalition supports "opt-out" as the best process for implementing these standards, we continue to want the bill to makes its way through the committee process. There may be opportunities to return the language to opt-out again.

Updated: March 12, 2007

Minnesota Update: Comprehensive Sex Education Hearing in the House Education Committee Tomorrow

The comprehensive sex education bill (House File 615) will be heard in the House Education Committee on Tuesday, March 13. Representative Neva Walker (Minneapolis—DFL) has introduced this legislation in the Minnesota House. Comprehensive sex education teaches both abstinence and contraception to reduce the risk of HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancy. This legislation would establish standards for medically accurate, age appropriate comprehensive sex education in Minnesota. The Sex Ed for Life Coalition, which MAP co-convenes with the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), is advancing this legislation.

Take Action:
Contact the House Education Committee Members and ask them to support House File 615.

Senate Committee Hearing Update—Comprehensive Sex Education
Comprehensive Sex Education (Senate File 588) was heard in the Senate Education Policy Committee last Wednesday. It successfully passed the committee (10-3) and has been referred to the education finance committee, where the appropriation will be evaluated.

Updated: March 1, 2007

Minnesota Update: Comprehensive Sex Education Hearing in the Senate Education Committee on March 7

The comprehensive sex education bill (Senate File 588 and House File 615) will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 7. Senator Sandy Pappas (St. Paul—DFL) has introduced this legislation in the Minnesota Senate. Comprehensive sex education teaches both abstinence and contraception to reduce the risk of HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancy. This legislation would establish standards for medically accurate, age appropriate comprehensive sex education in Minnesota. The Sex Ed for Life Coalition, which MAP co-convenes with the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), is advancing this legislation. Representative Neva Walker (Minneapolis—DFL) authors this bill in the House. Watch the MAP Advocate for when a hearing is scheduled for HF 615.

Take Action:
Contact the Senate Education Committee Members and ask them to support Senate File 588.

Updated: February 14, 2007

Minnesota Update: Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Introduced in the House and Senate

Senator Sandy Pappas (St. Paul—DFL) and Representative Neva Walker (Minneapolis—DFL) have recently introduced comprehensive sex education legislation in the Minnesota House and Senate. Comprehensive sex education teaches both abstinence and contraception to reduce the risk of HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancy. This legislation would, for the first time, establish standards for medically accurate, age appropriate comprehensive sex education in Minnesota.

The Sex Ed for Life Coalition, which MAP co-convenes with the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), will be working throughout the legislative session to advance this legislation. The comprehensive sex education legislation has broad support from both Democrats and Republicans.

Bill Numbers: Senate File 615 and House File 588

Updated: January 17, 2007

Minnesota Update: Comprehensive Sex Education Legislation Is Being Drafted

The Sex Ed for Life coalition (SEFL), which Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP) co-convenes with the Minnesota Organization of Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention, and parenting (MOAPPP), is advancing the comprehensive sex education legislation. Senator Sandy Pappas [DFL-St. Paul] and Representative Neva Walker [DFL-Minneapolis], have both agreed to author this bill again this year. They have both championed this legislation, in their respective chambers.

Sex Ed for Life Coalition
Comprehensive Sex Education Fact Sheet

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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