Rep. Bob McDermott addresses H.B. 459 – Comprehensive Sex Education

Measure Title: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Report Title:  Women’s Legislative Caucus Package; Comprehensive Sex Education

Description:  Specifies additional elements in Hawaii’s existing sexuality health education law, including additional criteria regarding implementation of sexuality health education instruction. Requires the Department of Education to provide certain types of information to the public and parents. (HB459 HD1)

Companion:  SB395

Package: None

Current Referral:  HLT, EDN

Introducer(s): BELATTI, CARROLL, EVANS, ICHIYAMA, LOWEN, LUKE, MORIKAWA, THIELEN, San Buenaventura

2/20/2015 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EDN with Representative(s) Fukumoto Chang, Har, Jordan, Matsumoto, Oshiro, Pouha, Tupola, Ward voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) McDermott voting no (1) and Representative(s) Ito excused (1).

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HB459 Amended: Parent's consent still needed for sex ed

HNN: The House Health Committee crossed out a controversial requirement in a sex education bill. Language in HB 459 would have mandated parents to opt their public school kids out of taking sex ed classes. Instead it will remain opt in....

Supporters of the opt in method believe it keeps parents on top of the sexuality health teaching their child receives.

"It'll be available. But in order for a student to attend the curriculum, the parents have to agree to it," said Steven Melendrez, whose son attends Mililani Middle School.

"We want to encourage parents to always be the ones that are responsible for what their kids are learning in the public school system," Hawaii Family Forum's Eva Andrade said.

"An opt in does put more onus on the parents to be asking the questions about what is the curriculum when it comes to that sensitive area of education" Health Committee Chair Rep. Della Au Belatti said.

Principals choose which sex education program will be used on their campus. For at least the next year, students will still need parental consent to take the class....

read ... Amended

HB459: Text, Status

SB395: Text, Status

Background: HB459 Forces 'Pono Choices' Gay Sex Program on Schools Statewide