SLS 17RS-360 ENGROSSED
2017 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 85
BY SENATOR COLOMB
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENTS. Authorizes the state Department of Education and the Louisiana Department
of Health to survey students regarding certain risk behavior associated with chronic health
conditions. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:281(A)(2), relative to student health; to authorize the state
3 Department of Education and the Louisiana Department of Health to survey students
4 about risk behavior associated with chronic health conditions; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:281(A)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง281. Instruction in sex education
9 A.
10 * * *
11 (2)(a) It is the intent of the legislature that, for the purposes of this Section,
12 "sex education" shall mean the dissemination of factual biological or pathological
13 information that is related to the human reproduction system and may include the
14 study of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, childbirth, puberty, menstruation,
15 and menopause, as well as the dissemination of factual information about parental
16 responsibilities under the child support laws of the state. It is the intent of the
17 legislature that "sex education" shall not include religious beliefs, practices in human
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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. 85
SLS 17RS-360 ENGROSSED
1 sexuality, nor the subjective moral and ethical judgments of the instructor or other
2 persons. Students shall not be tested, quizzed, or surveyed about their personal or
3 family beliefs or practices in about sex, morality, or religion.
4 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this
5 Paragraph, the following may survey high school students anonymously about
6 their risk behavior associated with chronic health conditions, including those
7 related to sexual health:
8 (i) The state Department of Education.
9 (ii) The Louisiana Department of Health.
10 (c) Prior to the administration of any survey authorized by the provisions
11 of Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, a student's parent or legal guardian
12 shall be provided the opportunity to request that the student be excused from
13 completing the survey. Upon such request, the student shall neither be given nor
14 be required to complete the survey.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
17 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
18 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
19 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
20 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 85 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Colomb
Present law authorizes public schools to offer instruction in "sex education" if such
instruction is integrated into an existing course of study such as biology, science, physical
hygiene, or physical education. Prohibits testing, quizzing, or surveying students about their
personal beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion.
Proposed law adds an exception to present law by authorizing the state Dept. of Education
and the La. Dept. of Health to survey high school students anonymously about their risk
behavior associated with chronic health conditions, including those related to sexual health.
Provides that prior to survey administration, a student's parent or legal guardian shall be
provided the opportunity to request that he be excused from completing the survey and that
upon such request, the student shall neither be given nor be required to complete 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. SB NO. 85
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Otherwise retains present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:281(A)(2))
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.