Require that a high school health curriculum include human sexuality and human development within the womb.
The bill has significant implications for state education laws, specifically regarding health education in public high schools. By instituting these requirements, the bill seeks to standardize the content delivered to students across school districts in South Dakota. This move could potentially foster a more informed student body concerning issues of sexuality and pregnancy, aligning school education more closely with certain legislative perspectives on reproductive health.
House Bill 1172 aims to mandate that high school health curriculums in South Dakota must include comprehensive information about human sexuality and human development within the womb. The bill emphasizes that the education presented to students in grades nine through twelve must cover sexual activity, pregnancy, and biological processes related to human development. The curriculum is required to incorporate visual aids, such as high-quality computer-generated videos that depict various abortion procedures in the first and second trimesters.
Notably, the bill includes provisions that restrict any individual or entity providing abortion services from being involved in the instructional materials used in these health classes. This aspect raises significant concerns among various stakeholders, including educators and reproductive health advocates, who argue that it may inhibit comprehensive education on reproductive health, potentially limiting students' understanding of their options and rights regarding reproductive services. Additionally, the enforcement mechanism outlined allows the attorney general to enforce compliance, which could place further pressure on schools and educators to adhere strictly to these regulations.