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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1888 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 550
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
David F. DeCoste
_________________
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 securing parental consent for human sexuality education.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/15/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1888 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 550
By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 550) of
David F. DeCoste relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education.
Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 463 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education.
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. The first sentence of Section 32A of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as
2appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “primarily”
3the following words:-involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues and shall adopt
4a policy ensuring notification to a parent or guardian and requiring the consent of such parent or
5guardian for their child’s participation.
6 SECTION 2. The first paragraph of said section 32A, as so appearing, is hereby amended
7by striking out the last sentence. 2 of 3
8 SECTION 3. The first sentence of the third paragraph of said section 32A, as so
9appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the following words: “To the extent
10practicable,” and inserting in place thereof the word:-“All”.
11 SECTION 4. The first sentence of the third paragraph of said section 32A, as so
12appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “review,” the following words:-
13at least 21 days before the planned instruction.
14 SECTION 5. Said Chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting
15after section 32A the following section:-
16 Section 32B. (a) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall
17be provided by mail, phone call, or United States mail at least 21 days before a presentation
18involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues.
19 (b) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall explicitly
20identify the topics of abortion, birth control, and laws regarding minors’ reproductive health
21when these topics are included in a presentation involving human sexual education or human
22sexuality issues.
23 (c) Notification to a parent or guardian and a request for their consent shall
24include the names of agencies to which a student may be referred for reproductive health issues,
25including birth control, abortion, and reproductive health services.
26 (d) A parent or guardian shall provide consent in writing for their child to attend a
27presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues. No child shall be 3 of 3
28penalized if their parent or guardian declines to give permission for them to participate in such
29presentation.
30 (e) Each school district’s website shall identify objectives related to abortion, birth
31control, and laws for minors’ consent for reproductive health-care services when these topics are
32included in “Health curriculum,” “Wellness education,” “Personal Responsibility Education
33Programs,” and similar or related programs.
34 (f) For each violation of this policy and for each child affected, a school district shall pay
35to each aggrieved parent or guardian the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars.