Bill > SB1736

This bill, titled the Oklahoma Sexual Education Reform and Parental Rights Protection Act, establishes new requirements for sexual education in Oklahoma schools, emphasizing parental consent and defining different types of sexual education. It amends existing laws to require school districts to obtain written consent from parents or legal guardians before a student can participate in any "comprehensive sexual education" or "sexual risk reduction" instruction, which are defined in the bill as programs that may advocate for sexual activity outside of marriage, promote non-heterosexual orientations as equally valid, teach explicit sexual techniques without emphasizing abstinence, include potentially obscene materials, teach gender identity outside the male/female binary without emphasizing biological sex, or present abortion as a safe reproductive health choice. Conversely, "optimal sexual health education" or "sexual risk avoidance" is defined as programs emphasizing abstinence, the risks of premarital sex, personal responsibility, and traditional family structures. The bill mandates that school districts make curriculum and materials for these programs available online and for parental inspection, and that parents must be notified in advance and provide written consent for their child's participation. Furthermore, it specifies that such classes can only be taught by certified teachers employed by the school district, prohibits outside organizations from leading them, and restricts the use of textbooks and instructional materials to those approved by the State Textbook Committee, with school districts barred from using state funds for unapproved materials. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1736&Session=2600