Sex ed bill clears Senate committee

APRIL 01, 2008

Sen. Ted Deutch's proposed legislation to require public schools to teach comprehensive sex education narrowly passed the Senate's pre K-12 committee this afternoon, by a 4-3 vote. Republican Sens. Stephen Wise, Don Gaetz and Alex Diaz de la Portilla all voted no.

The Healthy Teens Act (SB848) has the support of more than two dozen organizations and is being sponsored in the House by Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, D-Miami-Dade.

Under the bill, schools would have to teach that abstinence is the only "certain" way to avoid pregnancy or STDs, but also would have to provide information about other ways to reduce pregnancy or STD risk, such as contraceptives or condoms.

"This is not an abortion bill," said Deutch, D-Boca Raton. "This is about saving lives."

The bill hasn't moved in the House and now faces the committee chaired by conservative Hillsborough Republican Ronda Storms.

Posted by Aaron Sharockman at 4:38:01 pm on April 01, 2008 in

Florida Education Policy

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