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2020 SESSION

20102556D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1336
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 8, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to family life education; Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines; contemporary community standards; review.
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Patron-- Keam
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-207.1. Family life education.

A. As used in this section, "abstinence education" means an educational or motivational component that has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by teenagers' abstaining from sexual activity before marriage.

B. The Board of Education shall develop Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for a comprehensive, sequential family life education curriculum in grades kindergarten through 12. Such curriculum guidelines shall include instruction as appropriate for the age of the student in family living and community relationships; the benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and value of marriage for men, women, children, and communities; the value of family relationships; abstinence education; the value of postponing sexual activity; the benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy; human sexuality; human reproduction; the prevention of human trafficking; dating violence, the characteristics of abusive relationships, steps to take to deter sexual assault, the availability of counseling and legal resources, and, in the event of such sexual assault, the importance of immediate medical attention and advice, as well as the requirements of the law; the etiology, prevention, and effects of sexually transmitted diseases; and mental health education and awareness.

C. All such instruction shall be designed to promote parental involvement, foster positive self-concepts, and provide mechanisms for coping with peer pressure and the stresses of modern living according to the students' developmental stages and abilities. The Board shall also establish requirements for appropriate training for teachers of family life education, which shall include training in instructional elements to support the various curriculum components.

D. Each school board shall conduct a review of its family life education curricula at least once every seven years.

E. In conducting its regular review and revision of the Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for family life education pursuant to subsection B of § 22.1-253.13:1, the Board shall consult relevant stakeholders representing the interests of students, parents, health care providers, faith communities, and other public interest groups to ascertain and ensure that such standards and guidelines reflect contemporary community standards.

2. That the Board of Education shall complete its next review and revision of the Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for family life education in accordance with the provisions of this act no later than June 30, 2021.