REFERENCE TITLE: school instruction; AIDS; homosexuality

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fourth Legislature

First Regular Session

2019

 

 

SB 1415

 

Introduced by

Senators Quezada: Dalessandro, Peshlakai, Rios; Representative Andrade

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending section 15‑716, Arizona Revised Statutes; RELATING to school curricula.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 15-716, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-716.  Instruction on acquired immune deficiency syndrome; department assistance; parental opt-out

A.  Each common, high and unified school district may provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one through the twelfth grade twelve on acquired immune deficiency syndrome and the human immunodeficiency virus.

B.  Each district is free to may develop its own course of study for each grade.  At a minimum, instruction shall:

1.  Be appropriate to the grade level in which it is offered.

2.  Be medically accurate.

3.  Promote abstinence.

4.  Discourage drug abuse.

5.  Dispel myths regarding transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus.

C.  No district shall include in its course of study instruction which:

1.  Promotes a homosexual life‑style.

2.  Portrays homosexuality as a positive alternative life‑style.

3.  Suggests that some methods of sex are safe methods of homosexual sex.

D.  C.  At the request of a school district, the department of health services or the department of education shall review instruction materials to determine their medical accuracy.

E.  D.  At the request of a school district, the department of education shall provide the following assistance:

1.  A suggested course of study.

2.  Teacher training.

3.  A list of available films and other teaching aids.

F.  E.  At the request of a parent, a pupil shall be excused from instruction on the acquired immune deficiency syndrome and the human immunodeficiency virus as provided in subsection A of this section.  The school district shall notify all parents of their ability to withdraw their child from the instruction. END_STATUTE