Signed by Governor Wes Moore

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes sexual orientation and gender identity as a specific section in the Family Life and Human Sexuality category in Maryland.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health to create a comprehensive health education framework (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to update this framework in the manner and at the time the State Board determines it is necessary (Sec. 1).

• Requires the framework to include the following topics (Sec. 1):

• Health Promotion;

• Mental and Emotional Health;

• Substance Abuse Prevention;

• Family Life and Human Sexuality;

• Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation;

• Safety and Violence Prevention;

• Safe and Appropriate Social Media and Internet;

• Healthy Eating; and

• Disease Prevention and Control.

• Authorizes the County Boards to create an age-appropriate curriculum which is consistent with the Health education framework (Sec. 1).

• Requires that each county board establish a committee composed of educators, health experts, and members of the local community to review and comment on this curriculum to make sure it aligns with the comprehensive Health Education framework (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a Parent or Guardian from opting their student out of education relating to HIV and AIDS prevention (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that each county board shall provide an alternative to learning objectives that parents and guardians opt their child out of to meet the requirements of the Health Education program (Sec. 1).

• Specifies June 15th as the date each county board shall submit a report to the Department describing the actions taken to be in line with this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes sexual orientation and gender identity as a specific section in the Family Life and Human Sexuality category in Maryland.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health to create a comprehensive health education framework (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to update this framework in the manner and at the time the State Board determines it is necessary (Sec. 1).

• Requires the framework to include the following topics (Sec. 1):

• Health Promotion;

• Mental and Emotional Health;

• Substance Abuse Prevention;

• Family Life and Human Sexuality;

• Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation;

• Safety and Violence Prevention;

• Safe and Appropriate Social Media and Internet;

• Healthy Eating; and

• Disease Prevention and Control.

• Authorizes the County Boards to create an age-appropriate curriculum which is consistent with the Health education framework (Sec. 1).

• Requires that each county board establish a committee composed of educators, health experts, and members of the local community to review and comment on this curriculum to make sure it aligns with the comprehensive Health Education framework (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a Parent or Guardian from opting their student out of education relating to HIV and AIDS prevention (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that each county board shall provide an alternative to learning objectives that parents and guardians opt their child out of to meet the requirements of the Health Education program (Sec. 1).

• Specifies June 15th as the date each county board shall submit a report to the Department describing the actions taken to be in line with this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes sexual orientation and gender identity as a specific section in the Family Life and Human Sexuality category in Maryland.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health to create a comprehensive health education framework (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to update this framework in the manner and at the time the State Board determines it is necessary (Sec. 1).

• Requires the framework to include the following topics (Sec. 1):

• Health Promotion;

• Mental and Emotional Health;

• Substance Abuse Prevention;

• Family Life and Human Sexuality;

• Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation;

• Safety and Violence Prevention;

• Safe and Appropriate Social Media and Internet;

• Healthy Eating; and

• Disease Prevention and Control.

• Authorizes the County Boards to create an age-appropriate curriculum which is consistent with the Health education framework (Sec. 1).

• Requires that each county board establish a committee composed of educators, health experts, and members of the local community to review and comment on this curriculum to make sure it aligns with the comprehensive Health Education framework (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a Parent or Guardian from opting their student out of education relating to HIV and AIDS prevention (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that each county board shall provide an alternative to learning objectives that parents and guardians opt their child out of to meet the requirements of the Health Education program (Sec. 1).

• Specifies June 15th as the date each county board shall submit a report to the Department describing the actions taken to be in line with this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text