Massachusetts 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H509 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/16/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2086       FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 509
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to parental notification.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/17/2023Nicholas A. Boldyga3rd Hampden1/26/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth1/26/2023F. Jay Barrows1st Bristol1/26/2023Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden1/31/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2086       FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 509
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 509) of 
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others relative to parental options of enrolling children in elective 
courses involving sexual education rather than opting out of mandatory courses. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 633 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to parental notification.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 32A of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in 
3place thereof the following section:-
4 Section 32A. Every city, town, regional school district, or vocational school district 
5implementing or maintaining a curriculum, or a school-sanctioned program or activity, which 
6primarily involves human sexual education, human sexuality issues, or sexual orientation issues 
7shall adopt a written policy ensuring parental or legal guardian notification.
8 Such curriculum programs and activities, which primarily involve human sexual 
9education, human sexuality issues, or sexual orientation, shall be offered only in clearly  2 of 2
10identified non-mandatory elective courses in which parents or guardians may choose to enroll 
11their children through written notification to the school, in a manner reasonably similar to other 
12elective courses offered by the school district.
13 To the extent practicable, instruction materials and related items for said curriculum, 
14programs, and activities shall be made reasonably accessible to parents, guardians, educators, 
15school administrators, and others for inspection and review.
16 No public school teacher or administrator shall be required to participate in any such 
17curriculum program and activities which primarily involves human sexual education, human 
18sexuality issues, or sexual orientation issues that violate his or her religious beliefs.