IA
Iowa Senate Bill SF66

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF66

Introduced
1/12/23  
Introduced
1/12/23  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the health and human growth and development instruction provided by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools.

Impact

The introduction of SF66 is expected to have a significant impact on the state laws regarding educational curricula. By mandating lessons on sexual health and consent, the bill aims to ensure that students receive vital knowledge that can contribute to their safety and well-being. This curriculum amendment seeks to equip students with tools to recognize and prevent sexual assault, promote empathy, and respect personal boundaries, thus aiming to create a more informed and responsible youth population. Educational institutions will need to adapt their programming to meet these outlined standards, which may require additional training for educators and potential revisions of existing materials.

Summary

Senate File 66 (SF66) aims to enhance the health and human growth and development education provided by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. The bill outlines specific requirements regarding the curriculum that must be taught at various educational levels, emphasizing health education aspects including personal health, nutrition, emotional health, and the prevention and understanding of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections like HPV. It mandates the incorporation of education on sexual consent, recognizing harmful behaviors, and understanding both healthy and unhealthy relationships, all designed to foster a comprehensive understanding of personal health and safety for students.

Conclusion

SF66 represents a significant step towards enhancing health education in the state's schools, with the potential to substantially improve students' awareness and understanding of critical health issues. However, the bill's implementation will require careful consideration of community standards and input from various educational stakeholders to ensure that the curriculum is both effective and appropriate for students.

Contention

While the bill has been met with broad support for its educational objectives, there remain points of contention among various stakeholders. Some educators and parents may express concerns regarding the appropriateness of the content for different age groups or may disagree on the teaching methods for sensitive subjects like sexual consent and personal boundaries. There may also be discussions about the balance between state guidelines and the autonomy of local school districts in crafting their educational approaches, which could lead to debates on local control over educational curricula.

Latest SF66 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA SF54

A bill for an act relating to maternal health best practices.

IA SF56

A bill for an act relating to Medicaid reimbursement for maternal and child health.

IA SF70

A bill for an act relating to sexual abuse evidence collection kits.

IA SF2141

A bill for an act relating to the ordering and dispensing of self-administered hormonal contraceptives by a pharmacist pursuant to statewide protocols.

IA SF459

A bill for an act increasing the earned income tax credit available against the Iowa individual income tax, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

IA SF2303

A bill for an act relating to the personal needs allowance for residents of certain facilities under the Medicaid program, and providing an appropriation.

IA SF205

A bill for an act relating to voter registration activities at schools.

IA SF2137

A bill for an act relating to provision of the state family planning services under the Medicaid program, and including effective date and repeal provisions.

Similar Bills

CA AB1703

Residential real property: sale of rental properties: right of first offer.

IA SF175

A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curricula provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades five through twelve. (Formerly SSB 1028.) Effective date: 07/01/2025

IA SSB1028

A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curricula provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades one through twelve.(See SF 175.)

IA HF513

A bill for an act relating to education, including requiring instruction related to persons with disabilities in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the responsibilities of the state board of education, and modifying provisions related to school district and accredited nonpublic school programs that are designed to eliminate harassment and bullying.

NJ A3313

Creates advisory council to oversee revision of core curriculum content standards.

IA SF2150

A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades one through twelve.

IA HF2031

A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades one through twelve.(See HF 2617.)

IA HF187

A bill for an act relating to instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools related to the availability of a vaccine to prevent the human papilloma virus.