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H550 • 2025

An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education

An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
David F. DeCoste
Last action
2025-09-02
Official status
Referred to Joint Committee on Education
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education

An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 550) of David F.
  • DeCoste relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education.
  • Education.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-09-02 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  2. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Education

  3. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education
By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 550) of David F. DeCoste relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education. Education.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Education

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.550

SECTION 1. The first sentence of Section 32A of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “primarily” the following words:-involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues and shall adopt a policy ensuring notification to a parent or guardian and requiring the consent of such parent or guardian for their child’s participation.

SECTION 2. The first paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence.

SECTION 3. The first sentence of the third paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the following words: “To the extent practicable,” and inserting in place thereof the word:-“All”.

SECTION 4. The first sentence of the third paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “review,” the following words:- at least 21 days before the planned instruction.

SECTION 5. Said Chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after section 32A the following section:-

Section 32B. (a) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall be provided by mail, phone call, or United States mail at least 21 days before a presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues.

(b) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall explicitly identify the topics of abortion, birth control, and laws regarding minors’ reproductive health when these topics are included in a presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues.

(c) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall include the names of agencies to which a student may be referred for reproductive health issues, including birth control, abortion, and reproductive health services.

(d) A parent or guardian shall provide consent in writing for their child to attend a presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues. No child shall be penalized if their parent or guardian declines to give permission for them to participate in such presentation.

(e) Each school district’s website shall identify objectives related to abortion, birth control, and laws for minors’ consent for reproductive health-care services when these topics are included in “Health curriculum,” “Wellness education,” “Personal Responsibility Education Programs,” and similar or related programs.

(f) For each violation of this policy and for each child affected, a school district shall pay to each aggrieved parent or guardian the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars.

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