BHB/4/12
Sponsored by Sofia Turpin-Bolanos, Ashlyn Fox, Julia Anderson of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences
This legislation was filed in the Education category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH LEGISLATURE |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms in this section shall be defined as follows: |
| 4 | Article 49-6-1302: A section in the state constitution that explicitly states how a sex education |
| 5 | course, or family life curriculum, is to be taught and the guidelines it must be within. |
| 6 | Comprehensive sex education: A sex education program designed to teach students how to |
| 7 | maintain their sexual health and build healthy relationships; topics include contraception, |
| 8 | autonomy, sexuality or sexual orientation, and consent |
| 9 | Public schools: Any school in the state of Tennessee funded and governed by the state |
| 10 | Age-appropriate: As defined by the state, sex education courses “designed to teach concepts, |
| 11 | information and skills based on the social, cognitive, emotional and experience level of most |
| 12 | students at a particular age” |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Section 2: Article 49-6-1302 in the TN Code Annotated provides the guidelines for sex education |
| 15 | classes, when and if one is implemented. This section; however, does not require schools to |
| 16 | provide these classes. This bill will therefore amend Article 49-6-1302 to require public schools in |
| 17 | the state of Tennessee to provide a sex education classes, or family life curriculum for all students |
| 18 | in grades 3-12. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Section 3: The seat time requirement for sex education will be a minimum of 20 hours per fiscal |
| 21 | school year. This is because, on average, there are 10 months in a school year, meaning that if |
| 22 | the class is taught for two hours each month, it will total 20 hours spent taking a sex education |
| 23 | class. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Section 4: Age appropriate sex education classes will be taught starting in the third grade and |
| 26 | continuing through twelfth grade. Courses for third through fifth graders will deal with topics such |
| 27 | as boundaries, general consent, and vocalization. Early middle school courses will be slightly more |
| 28 | advanced, covering topics of the male and female reproductive systems. These courses will take a |
| 29 | more scientific approach, allowing students to build on this knowledge later in their schooling |
| 30 | career. Late middle school courses will cover the actual topic of sexual intercourse, as well as |
| 31 | discussing gender identity and sexual orientation. Middle school courses will also be expected to |
| 32 | begin discussing how the sharing of sensitive information regarding an individual’s sexual |
| 33 | orientation and sexual health can impact one's mental health and view on intercourse all together. |
| 34 | A comprehensive class like the one this bill will mandate will aim to create a safe place for |
| 35 | |
| 36 | courses will be expected to go much deeper, discussing sexual harassment, birth control, sexual |
| 37 | health, and abortion. |
| 38 | |
| 39 | Section 5: The standards set for this course are provided in the Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6- |
| 40 | 1301 through 49-6-1308. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | Section 6: This course will not require any additional funding, as the state of Tennessee already |
| 43 | has the process of implementing this class written into its codes. |
| 44 | |
| 45 | Section 7: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this are hereby repealed. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | Section 8: This bill shall be enacted at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. |
| 48 |