Sex education opt-in bill heads to Kansas House floor

A bill that would require parents of public school students to sign a form before their children can take sex education will go to the House floor.

HB 2199, which was advanced by the House Education Committee on Thursday, says that no school district “shall provide instruction on human sexuality to a student, unless written consent has been received from the parent or legal guardian.”

Under current law, parents can choose to opt their children out of receiving sex education. This bill would move the state to an “opt-in” system.

Rep. Dennis Hedke, R-Wichita, said the policy change would put parents in the driver’s seat. The committee passed the bill by a vote of 10-8.

Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, warned that this could lead to at-risk youth being excluded from receiving instruction they need. He said the children who may need the instruction most are the ones whose parents are not involved in their lives and would be less likely to sign the form.

This story was originally published February 19, 2015 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Sex education opt-in bill heads to Kansas House floor."