Hello Healthy Futures Community,

I wanted to alert you to a BILL that is up for a hearing TUESDAY in
the House Public Education Committee. The bill is SB 163 [1] by Senator
Donna Campbell. It has already cleared the Senate. 

WHAT WOULD SB 163 DO?

Last session, the legislature implemented a requirement that students get
written consent from their parents in order to participate in sex
education. The opt-in requirement expires in 2024, so SB 163 would make it
permanent. Previously, parents could opt their kids out of sex education if
they opposed the instruction. Texas also now requires written parent
permission for any instruction on abuse prevention. 

WHY IS THIS A CONCERN? 

Texas has one of the highest rates of teen birth in the nation, with a baby
born to a teen mother once every 25 minutes. Rates of sexually transmitted
infections are on the rise. Sex education can support healthy outcomes
for our kids. 

Many families fail to return opt-in forms because they simply overlook them
or forget about them – and research shows that kids who are the most
at-risk for outcomes like teen pregnancy are the ones whose parents are
least likely to manage to return the paperwork. 

Additionally, Texas law puts a lot of unnecessary red tape in front of
districts when it comes to these permission forms. For example, the forms
can’t go out with any other documents, making them much harder to manage.
In fact, the sex ed permission slip and the abuse prevention permission
slip can’t even go out together, despite the fact that this content is
part of the same health class! Simple changes to state law could allow
these forms to go out in the beginning of year registration packets, where
parents are more likely to actually see them, improving transparency for
parents. 

WHAT CAN YOU SAY?

“I think that opt-out policies for sex education are better for Texas
kids. But if we make opt-in permanent, please take steps to remove
administrative red tape and make these laws easier for our overworked
teachers to comply with.” 

How can you help?

1. Share this info with colleagues whose work would be impacted. 

2. Reach out to members of the House Public Education Committee via phone,
email, or in person visit to share your concerns with the bill. Their
information is listed below. 

3. Submit written comments on the bill at this link [2]anytime before 8
a.m. Tuesday. 

4. If you're interested in testifying Tuesday, reach out to us. 

PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

 BRAD BUCKLEY (CHAIR) 
Capitol Office: E1.324
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0684
Link to their Email Portal [3]

 ALMA ALLEN (VICE CHAIR) 
Capitol Office: 4N.10
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0744
Link to their Email Portal [4]

 STEVE ALLISON 
Capitol Office: E2.322
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0686
Link to their Email Portal [5]

 CHARLES CUNNINGHAM 
Capitol Office: E2.402
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0520
Link to their Email Portal [6]

 HAROLD V. DUTTON, JR. 
Capitol Office: 3N.5
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0510
Link to their Email Portal [7]

 CODY HARRIS 
Capitol Office: E2.606
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0730
Link to their Email Portal [8]

 BRIAN HARRISON 
Capitol Office: E2.704
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0516
Link to their Email Portal [9]

 COLE HEFNER 
Capitol Office: E2.718
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0271
Link to their Email Portal [10]

 GINA HINOJOSA 
Capitol Office: E2.214
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0668
Link to their Email Portal [11]

 KEN KING 
Capitol Office: E2.808
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0736
Link to their Email Portal [12]

 OSCAR LONGORIA 
Capitol Office: 4N.4
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0645
Link to their Email Portal [13]

 MATT SCHAEFER 
Capitol Office: GN.8
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0584
Link to their Email Portal [14]

 JAMES TALARICO 
Capitol Office: E2.902
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0821
Link to their Email Portal [15]

Thank you for your continued support on behalf of Texas youth,

Jen Biundo
Senior Director of Policy and Research
Healthy Futures of Texas 

[16]

HEALTHY FUTURES OF TEXAS

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San Antonio, TX 78207


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