HLS 15RS-556 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 326
BY REPRESENTATIVE WESLEY BISHOP
STUDENTS: Authorizes surveys of public school students in Orleans Parish regarding risk
behaviors
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:281(A)(2), relative to surveys of students in Orleans Parish
3 schools; to authorize public school governing authorities in Orleans Parish to allow
4 students to be surveyed about their risk behaviors; and to provide for related matters.
5 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
6 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
7 Louisiana.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 17:281(A)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 ยง281. Instruction in sex education
11 A.
12 * * *
13 (2) It is the intent of the legislature that, for the purposes of this Section, "sex
14 education" shall mean the dissemination of factual biological or pathological
15 information that is related to the human reproduction system and may include the
16 study of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, childbirth, puberty, menstruation,
17 and menopause, as well as the dissemination of factual information about parental
18 responsibilities under the child support laws of the state. It is the intent of the
19 legislature that "sex education" shall not include religious beliefs, practices in human
20 sexuality, nor the subjective moral and ethical judgments of the instructor or other
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-556 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 326
1 persons. Students shall not be tested, quizzed, or surveyed about their personal or
2 family beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion; however, a governing
3 authority of a public school in Orleans Parish may allow students to be surveyed
4 about their risk behaviors, including those related to sexual health.
5 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 326 Original 2015 Regular Session Wesley Bishop
Abstract: Authorizes surveys of public school students in Orleans Parish regarding risk
behaviors.
Present law authorizes public elementary and secondary schools to offer instruction in sex
education in grades seven and above, provided that such instruction is integrated into an
existing course of study such as biology, science, physical hygiene, or physical education.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law prohibits students from being tested, quizzed, or surveyed about their personal
beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion. Proposed law adds an exception to present
law to authorize public school governing authorities in Orleans Parish to allow students to
be surveyed about their risk behaviors, including those related to sexual health.
(Amends R.S. 17:281(A)(2))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.