Lee Signs Bill Into Law Requiring Parental Consent For Some Sex Education Curriculum, Club Participation In Public Schools
Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Legislation requiring Tennessee schools to obtain parental consent before allowing students to participate in clubs or courses that discuss sexual orientation and gender identity was officially signed into law by Governor Bill Lee on May 5th, 2023.
As originally introduced, the bill required a student’s parent or legal guardian, or the student if the student has reached the age of majority, to provide a written, informed, and voluntarily signed consent to the student’s local education agency (LEA) before the student may receive instruction through the LEA’s family life curriculum, participate in a survey, analysis, or evaluation, or receive health services provided through a coordinated school health program.
Under consideration by the Tennessee General Assembly the legislation was amended to add the requirement that parents would “opt-in” to allow students to participate in school clubs and organizations. This “opt-in” approach would replace the typical practice of requiring parents to “opt-out” which increases the likelihood of students participating in activities without the explicit approval of their parents.
The bill was also amended further to clarify that it does not apply to students eighteen or older who can “opt-in” for themselves.
The intent behind this legislation is to combat the issue of parents being ill-informed about what their children are truly participating in during school hours. If properly executed, this law has the potential to improve communication between not only schools and parents, but parents and their children.
Senate Bill 1443 (SB1443) was sponsored by Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield-District 23) and passed in the Senate with a 25-5 vote on April 17th. Companion House Bill 0727 (HB0727) was sponsored by Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32) and passed in the House by a vote of 74-24 on April 19th.
In Tennessee, a governor may choose to sign a bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his or her signature which requires the bill to sit on the governor’s desk for a period of ten days without action.
Typically, if a governor signs a particular bill that means they approve of it and wish to show their public support of the legislation.
SB1443/HB0727 was sent over to the Governor’s Office on April 26th after the bill passed through both bodies of the legislature and Gov. Lee signed the bill into law on Friday of last week.
After all the bills that have been passed this year are officially made law, the Governor’s Office will send the bills over to the Secretary of State’s Office where they will remain from that point on.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
“Some”?
Lee what a wasteral U R.