Taking control from the parents and school boards.
Via KDVR:
A controversial, comprehensive sex education bill advanced late Thursday at the Colorado State Capitol, but not before hours of testimony in the State Senate.
The measure, which already passed the House, was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. It is expected to be the last public hearing on the bill. The Comittee vote was 3-2.
Under HB 1032, the state reinforces an already existing ban on abstinence-only education while requiring that experiences of LGBTQ Coloradans be taught as well.
The bill makes clear that healthy relationships and consent must be part of any instruction and that if a teacher brings up pregnancy, the concepts of abortion and adoption must included.
Senators promised to pass several amendments to the bill Thursday, including removing language regarding religious ideology and clarifying that teachers are not to instruct about any specific sex act.
Lawmakers are also making clear that parents must be notified before any such instruction takes place, giving parents an option to remove their child from the classroom.