Bill

HB 1342

85(R) - 2017
House Public Education
Senate Education
House Public Education
Senate Education

Vote Recommendation

Vote No; Amend
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Tan Parker

Co-Author(s)

Dennis Bonnen
Ina Minjarez
Ron Simmons

Sponsor(s)

Bryan Hughes

Bill Caption

Relating to child sexual abuse prevention training for public school students.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

This bill would mandate school districts to set up sexual abuse education and prevention lectures that are age appropriate for students. Annual attendance would be mandatory. This program would be designed to teach students how to safeguard themselves and others from sexual abuse and trafficking.

Vote Recommendation Notes

While we support the goals of this legislation, we are concerned that it does not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent it's mandate from being used as a pretext for teaching sexual education to small children which would be an inappropriate role for public education to play in Texas. Parents should be able to determine when and how to introduce those topics to their children.

We would remove our objection to this legislation if it were amended to include a definition of age appropriate as related to the content of material included in the mandatory lectures, involve parents in the curriculum-making process, clearly stipulate that this bill cannot be used to create mandatory sexual education for public school students, and allow for parents to opt their children out of the annual lecture.