A contentious bill, HB19-1032, that would require school districts who choose to provide sex ed courses to teach a comprehensive curriculum, was signed into law on Friday.
A comprehensive curriculum means more options for students other than abstinence. That includes the meaning of consent, birth control, sexual orientation and STDs. The bill does not require that schools teach sex education.
Governor Jared Polis signed the bill on Friday following months of late-night testimony and packed hearings.
Most schools in the state already began reaching curriculum that falls under the new law after a similar law was passed in 2013, but there were some -- including charter and rural schools -- that opted out.
The language in HB19-1032 is virtually identical to the existing law. Opponents falsely claim it creates a new mandate to teach about LGBTQ relationships, despite the current legislation having been in the books for years.
This also applies to the part about teaching methods of birth control other than abstinence.
Some opponents of the bill have also argued that parents can’t opt out, which is not the case.
The only new part of the bill is the section on teaching consent, which reads “affirmative, unambiguous, voluntary, continuous, knowing agreement between all participants.”
WATCH | What is and what is not in the sex ed bill:
Some parents have also expressed concerns that Planned Parenthood wrote the bill. While the organization has endorsed it, the vice president of the local organization said it did not write the curriculum, though districts can choose to have Planned Parenthood representatives come in and teach it.
The bill also seeks $1 million dollars a year to create a grant for smaller school districts who can't afford these kinds of programs.
It was sponsored by three Democrats - Representatives Susan Lontine and Yadira Caraveo, and Sen. Nancy Todd - as well as Sen. Don Corom, a Republican.
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