Equality from State to State 2011

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Schools-Related Bills

ACTIVE Pennsylvania House Bill 416 This bill would require schools to offer comprehensive, medically accurate, age appropriate sex education. In addition, it would require instructions and materials be appropriate for use with, and not promote bias against, pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexually active pupils, and pupils with disabilities. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the House on Feb. 3, 2011, and was referred to the Education Committee. ACTIVE Pennsylvania House Bill 879 This bill would amend the existing anti-bullying law to mandate specific reporting procedures, a statement prohibiting reprisal or retaliation for reporting, creation of a model policy by the Department of Education, and publication of the adopted policy. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the House on March 2, 2011, and was referred to the Education Department. ACTIVE Pennsylvania House Bill 1805 This bill would amend the existing antibullying law to add prohibitions on harassment, intimidation, and cyberbullying; mandate specific reporting procedures, including a statement prohibiting reprisal or retaliation for reporting, creation of a model policy by the Department of Education, and publication of the adopted policy; require teacher training and student education; and extend the scope of protections to include activities that take place on a bus or at a school sponsored event. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the House on Aug. 10, 2011, and was referred to the Education Committee. ACTIVE Pennsylvania Senate Bill 191 This bill would amend the existing anti-bullying law to prohibit bullying, harassment, and intimidation off school grounds when it creates a hostile environment in school or interferes with the education process; require principals to appoint an anti-bullying specialist; require schools to form a safe school team; require schools to educate students, teachers, staff,

and parents on bullying; and create a bullying prevention fund. STATUS: This bill was introduced on April 8, 2011, and was referred to the Education Committee. ACTIVE South Carolina House Bill 3142 This bill would amend the law to provide that a person who violates the provisions of the Safe Schools Act – with respect to harassment, intimidation, or bullying towards a student – is guilty of a misdemeanor. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the House on Jan. 11, 2011, and was referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works. It was recalled from committee and re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Schools-Related Bills ACTIVE

ACTIVE Oklahoma Senate Bill 37 This bill would require sex education to be medically accurate. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the Senate on Feb. 7, 2011, and was referred to the Education Committee.

ACTIVE South Carolina Senate Bill 566 This bill would amend the state safe schools law to add enumerated categories, including sexual orientation and gender identity; expand reporting and investigation procedures; and require that policies be placed prominently on the school district website and distributed annually to parents. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the Senate on Feb. 15, 2011, and was referred to the Education Committee. ACTIVE Tennessee House Bill 229 This bill as introduced would prohibit the teaching of or furnishing of materials on human sexuality other than heterosexuality in public school grades K-8. As amended, the bill would require that any instruction or materials made available or provided in a public elementary or middle school must be limited exclusively to “natural human reproduction science.” STATUS: This bill was introduced in the House on Feb. 3, 2011, and was referred to the Education Committee. ACTIVE Tennessee House Bill 432 As amended, this bill would require that a parent or guardian of a student must provide a school with written permission for their child to join a club or organization prior to the school permitting such student to join a club or organization. STATUS: This bill was introduced in the House on Feb. 9, 2011. It passed the House Education Committee on March 8, 2011, and the full House on March 9, 2011. The Senate substituted the House bill for a compatible Senate bill and adopted the aforementioned amendment on May 16, 2011. It passed the Senate Education Committee on May 18, 2011.

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