The state senate yesterday passed a reintroduced bill that would require parental permission before teaching sex education in Arizona schools.
House Bill 20-35 would prohibit sex education without a parent or guardian’s written consent; it also bars sex education before the fifth grade. A previous version of the bill passed the state legislature this spring but was vetoed by Governor Doug Ducey, who said the policy could prevent children from learning about sexual abuse prevention. The new legislation allows students under grade five to learn about abuse and safety. The bill will now head to the house of representatives for further review. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman encouraged Ducey to once again veto the legislation.