Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 Senate passes Healthy Youth Act O n September 23, the State Senate voted to pass a bill cosponsored by State Senator Sal DiDomenico, An Act relative to healthy youth (S.2534). This bill will ensure that Massachusetts public schools electing to teach sex education curriculum use age-appropriate, medically accurate and research-based information that covers a comprehensive range of topics. The legislation also calls for sex education to be inclusive and appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives for consideration. “I am very proud that the Massachusetts Senate has again reaffi rmed our commitment to this commonsense health policy that will ensure your people have the tools needed to protect their health and form respectful relationships,” said DiDomenico, who is Vice-Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education, which is the primary sponsor of the bill. “This legislation makes it clear that sex education in the ComLawrence 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 monwealth must be inclusive for all students and emphasize the importance and necessity of consent. I would like to especially thank the many advocates who have partnered with us on this legislation and worked tirelessly to ensure Massachusetts youth have the information they need to build the bright futures they deserve––without shame or judgement.” Currently, public schools in the Commonwealth that choose to teach sex education are not required to use or adhere to a specific curriculum. While some schools provide comprehensive and effective sex education, others teach outdated and abstinence-focused programs, including curricula that ignores LGBTQIA+ health and critical lessons on consent. This has led to a patchwork of sexual education programs across the state. The Healthy Youth Act aims to change this by requiring school districts that offer sex education to follow certain guidelines when selecting a curriculum. This is vital to ensuring that students throughSal DiDomenico State Senator out the state are provided with age-appropriate, medically accurate and comprehensive information, including topics on: • The benefi ts of delaying sex • Human anatomy, reproduction and sexual development • Eff ective contraceptive use • Prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) • Relationship and communication skills to form healthy relationships • Coverage of affirmative, conscious and voluntary consent • Information about gender identity and sexual orientation, including “resources and support services for all students, including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, agender, queer and questioning students” The bill does not require public schools to teach sex education but sets curriculum guidelines for those that do. The bill also protects and enhances parents’ right to remove their children from all or part of the sex 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 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 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. Now in its 10th year, the Healthy Youth Act has been passed by the Senate several times over in previous legislative sessions. The most recent iteration of the bill incorporates additional feedback from experts, educators and advocates, and was cosponsored by 70 representatives and 24 SENATE | SEE PAGE 9
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