What's happening
This bill requires comprehensive, medically accurate sex education to be taught in grades 1-12 in all New York public and charter schools.
Why it matters
Establishes a statewide standard. for sex education content, ensuring all students, regardless of where they live in New York, receive consistent, evidence-based, and medically accurate information.
Requires inter-agency collaboration. (Education, Health, and Mental Health departments) in curriculum design, potentially leading to a more comprehensive approach that addresses physical, emotional, and mental health aspects of sexuality.
Allows for local adaptation. of the curriculum by city or school district, but only if it meets or exceeds state standards, balancing local control with statewide quality assurance.
Accelerates implementation. by mandating that the curriculum be ready within a year and taught in the first school year after certification, signaling urgency in addressing gaps in current sex education.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Sex Ed in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Sex Ed in Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Diana Richardson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
791
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MONTGOMERY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to mandating sex education in elementary and high schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to read as follows:
§ 817. Comprehensive sex education. 1. The commissioner, working in consultation with the commissioners of health and mental health, shall create and establish a comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate sex education curriculum which shall be taught in grades one through twelve in all public and charter schools. Such curriculum shall be ready for use within one year of the effective date of this section.
2. The chancellor of the New York city school system, or a board of education may adopt their own curriculum upon approval of the commissioner, provided, however, that the commissioner shall not approve any curriculum which does not substantially comply with the curriculum created pursuant to subdivision one of this section.
3. Schools shall begin teaching the curriculum established pursuant to this section in the first school year following certification by the commissioner that such curriculum has been established.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02885-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to mandating sex educa- tion in elementary and high schools
Purpose
To establish and implement a comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate sex education curriculum in grades one through twelve in all public and charter schools.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 817 to the Education Law requiring the Commissioner of Education to collaborate with the Commissioners of Health and Mental Health to create an age comprehensive, medically accu- rate and age-appropriate sex education curriculum for all grades and requires that schools teach sex education. The section also grants local boards of education or the Chancellor of the New York City School System the option of adopting their own curriculum upon approval of the Commis- sioner.
Section 2 establishes the enactment date.
Justification
According to a U.S. Government report released in April 2007, absti- nence-only sex education does not keep teenagers from having sex. The independent study determined that the more than 2,000 teens who took part in the programs as elementary and middle schools students were just as likely to have sex as those who did not participate in them.
Similarly, a report of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy found no credible evidence to support the claim that abstinence-only programs delay the onset of sexual activity or reduce its frequency. Rather, the report revealed that abstinence-only programs put teens in harm's way of contracting sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, and fail to provide information about contraceptive methods that could prevent pregnancy.
A poll conducted by Zogby International reveal that 77 percent of New York voters believe that comprehensive age appropriate, medically accu- rate sex education should be taught in public schools. The State has a responsibility to bring this instruction into the classroom to keep our youth healthy and safe, and give them the tools they need to make heal- thy lifestyle choices.
Legislative history
2807-2008; Died in Committee 2009-2010; Referred to and died in the Senate Committee on Education. 2011-2012; S.71 -Died in Committee 2013: S.1291 - Died in Committee. 2014: S.1291 A Referred to Education Committee.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
The effective date is immediate.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.