THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 8, 2024 Page 5 Senate approves bill to update and modernize sexual health education DiDomenico’s ‘Healthy youth Act’ boosts accurate and inclusive sex and relationship education, enhances parental rights, codifi es comprehensive framework L ast Thursday the Massachusetts Senate passed the Healthy Youth Act, which was presented by Senator Sal DiDomenico and which would ensure that Massachusetts public schools electing to teach sexual health education curriculum use age-appropriate, inclusive, medically accurate, and research-based information on sex, relationships and consent. The Healthy Youth Act, S.2686, would enhance parental rights and codify into law the voluntary framework approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It calls for sex and relationship education to be inclusive and appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity. “The Healthy Youth Act will fi nally make it clear that sex and relationship education in Massachusetts must be inclusive of all students and emphasize the importance and necessity of consent in relationships,” said Senator DiDomenico, who is Assistant Majority Leader and lead sponsor of the Senate bill. “We must fi - nally get this commonsense health policy over the fi nish line to ensure our children have the information they need to protect their health, form respectful relationships, and build the bright futures they deserve. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, Chair Lewis, and all the advocates who have worked tirelessly to give our children the best education available.” “The true north for the Massachusetts Senate is providing our young people and families with every tool possible to empower them to live a bright future, right here in our state,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Inclusive and medically accurate sex and relationship education is fundamental to supporting residents in building that future, and critical if we want to continue leading and competing in all aspects of education nationally. Thanks to the relentless work of Senator DiDomenico, and the tireless support from Chair Lewis and all who have worked so hard on this eff ort, Massachusetts has an opportunity to continue to lead in this space.” This is the fi fth consecutive session during which the Senate has adopted similar legislation. On March 6, 2024, the House referred the bill to its committee on Ways and Means. Requiring medically accurate curriculum for public schools teaching sex and relationship education The Healthy Youth Act mandates ensuring that students in public schools that offer sexual health education are receiving, and teachers have guidance on, curricula that is age-appropriate, medically accurate, comprehensive and inclusive of LGBTQ+ health and lessons on consent. The Act mandates incorporating comprehensive sex and relationship education that could support students in delaying the initiation of sex, increasing use of contraception, lowering the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy among teens and reducing reported levels of bullying towards LGBTQ+ youths in school. Curricula for schools that choose to teach sex and relationship education would include the following: the benefi ts of delaying sex; human anatomy, reproduction and sexual development; eff ective contraceptive use; prevention of pregnancy and STIs; relationship and communication skills to form healthy relationships; coverage of affi rmative, conscious and voluntary consent; and age-appropriate information about gender identity and Senator Sal DiDomenico spoke in favor of S.2686, An Act relative to healthy youth, on the Senate fl oor. (Courtesy photo) sexual orientation, including resources that off er support to LGBTQ+ students. Protecting and enhancing parental notification and rights This legislation also protects and enhances parents’ right to remove their children from all or part of the sex and relationship education program if they choose to do so – an action already protected by state law. Additionally, this bill updates parent-notifi - cation guidelines for districts that choose to teach sex and relationship education curriculum and requires schools to send notice to parents in English and in other commonly spoken languages in the district. Notice would alert parents that their child is enrolled in a sex and relationship education course and would inform them of their right to review the curriculum or opt their child out of some or all of the lessons. Building on the DESE education framework The Healthy Youth Act mandates codifying into law the health education framework approved by DESE last year, which is currently only a voluntary guideline for school districts in the Commonwealth. If passed, the legislation would strengthen the impact of the new health education framework and create standards for sex and relationship curricula in public schools. The Healthy Youth Act would require the DESE to collect data on sex and relationship education taught in public schools and require DESE to review and update the framework at least every 10 years to ensure the sex and relationship education guidelines remain comprehensive and are meeting the needs of students. The bill has the support of a broad coalition of education and LGBTQ+ advocates around the state. The following are statements from some of its supporters. BILL | SEE PAGE 7 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net
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