ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: ED DP 6-4-0-2

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2670: health education; fetal development instruction

Sponsor: Representative Keshel, LD 17

House Engrossed

Overview

Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to require that all health education instruction provided in the 7th or 8th grades include instruction on fetal development. Details parental notice and opt out procedures.

History

SBE must prescribe minimum course of study requirements that incorporate the academic standards to be taught in common schools and that are required for the graduation of students from high school. SBE is also required to prescribe competency requirements in at least the areas of reading, writing, math, science and social studies for the promotion of students from the 3rd and 8th grades and for the graduation of students from high school (A.R.S. §§ 15-701 and 15-701.01).

Currently, SBE rules require common school students to demonstrate competency in health/physical education (A.A.C. R7-2-301).

Provisions

1.   Instructs SBE, in adopting course of study and competency requirements, to require that all health education instruction provided to students in the 7th or 8th grades include instruction on fetal development. (Sec. 1)

2.   Specifies the instruction on fetal development must include:

a)   information about the human reproductive process, pregnancy and infertility; and

b)   a description of the growth and development of an unborn child that occurs during each trimester of pregnancy. (Sec. 1)

3.   Allows SBE to require that health education instruction provided to students in the 1st-6th grades or 9th-12th grades include age-appropriate instruction on fetal development. (Sec. 1)

4.   Exempts a student from instruction on fetal development at the request of the student's parent. (Sec. 1)

5.   Mandates each school district and charter school provide a description of the course curriculum to all parents and notify parents of their ability to withdraw their child from the instruction on fetal development. (Sec. 1)

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9.                     HB 2670

10.  Initials CH           Page 0 House Engrossed

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