SLS 15RS-206 REENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 31
BY SENATOR MORRELL
STUDENTS. Authorizes surveys of public school students in Orleans Parish regarding risk
behaviors. (8/1/15)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:281(A)(2), relative to instruction in sex education; to provide
3 relative to surveys of students in Orleans Parish schools; to authorize public school
4 governing authorities in Orleans Parish to allow students to be surveyed about their
5 risk behaviors; and to provide for related matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:281(A)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง281. Instruction in sex education
10 A.
11 * * *
12 (2)(a) It is the intent of the legislature that, for the purposes of this Section,
13 "sex education" shall mean the dissemination of factual biological or pathological
14 information that is related to the human reproduction system and may include the
15 study of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, childbirth, puberty, menstruation,
16 and menopause, as well as the dissemination of factual information about parental
17 responsibilities under the child support laws of the state. It is the intent of the
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 31
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1 legislature that "sex education" shall not include religious beliefs, practices in human
2 sexuality, nor the subjective moral and ethical judgments of the instructor or other
3 persons. Students shall not be tested, quizzed, or surveyed about their personal or
4 family beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion.
5 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the governing
6 authority of a public school in Orleans Parish may anonymously survey
7 students regarding their risk behaviors, including those related to sexual health.
8 However, each student's parent or legal guardian shall receive a copy of the
9 survey and shall have the option to have his child excused from participation in
10 any such survey.
11 (c) All information collected pursuant to such survey shall be reported
12 in the aggregate and any school level data shall be held confidential and shall
13 not be considered a public record.
14 * * *
The original instrument was prepared by Jeanne Johnston. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Cathy R. Wells.
DIGEST
SB 31 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session Morrell
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 anonymously survey students regarding their risk behaviors,
including those related to sexual health.
Proposed law requires that a student's parent or legal guardian receive a copy of the survey.
Provides that a student's parent or legal guardian has the option to have his child excused
from participation in any such survey. Further provides that all information collected
pursuant to such survey shall be reported in the aggregate, and any school level data is
confidential and shall not be considered a public record.
Effective August 1, 2015.
(Amends R.S. 17:281(A)(2))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 31
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill
1. Specifies that survey is anonymous.
2. Provides parental opt-out from student participation.
3. Provides for aggregate reporting.
4. Provides that school level data is confidential and shall not be a public
record.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Requires that a student's parent or legal guardian receive a copy of the
survey.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.