SB656: Sexually explicit content; DOE shall develop model policies, parental notification.


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8, relating to the Department of Education; model policies; instructional material; sexually explicit content; parental notification.
[S 656]
Approved

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8 as follows:

§ 22.1-16.8. Instructional material; sexually explicit content; parental notification.

A. As used in this section, "sexually explicit content" has the same meaning as provided in subsection A of § 2.2-2827.

B. The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to:

1. Ensuring parental notification;

2. Directly identifying the specific instructional material and sexually explicit subjects; and

3. Permitting the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and provide, as an alternative, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.

C. Each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than the model policies developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.

2. That the Department of Education shall develop and make available to each school board model policies pursuant to subsection B of § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than July 31, 2022.

3. That each school board shall adopt policies pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than January 1, 2023.

4. That the provisions of this act shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools.


SENATE BILL NO. 656
FLOOR AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by Senator Dunnavant
on February 7, 2022)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Dunnavant)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8, relating to the Department of Education; model policies; instructional material; sexually explicit content; parental notification.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8 as follows:

§ 22.1-16.8. Instructional material; sexually explicit content; parental notification.

A. As used in this section, "sexually explicit content" has the same meaning as provided in subsection A of § 2.2-2827.

B. The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to:

1. Ensuring parental notification;

2. Directly identifying the specific instructional material and sexually explicit subjects; and

3. Permitting the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and provide, as an alternative, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.

C. Each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than the model policies developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.

2. That the Department of Education shall develop and make available to each school board model policies pursuant to subsection B of § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than July 31, 2022.

3. That each school board shall adopt policies pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than January 1, 2023.

4. That the provisions of this act shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools.


SENATE BILL NO. 656
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health
on February 3, 2022)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Dunnavant)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8, relating to the Department of Education; model policies; instructional material; sexually explicit visual material; parental notification.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8 as follows:

§ 22.1-16.8. Instructional material; sexually explicit visual material; parental notification.

A. As used in this section, "sexually explicit visual material" has the same meaning as provided in subsection A of § 18.2-374.1.

B. The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit visual material and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to:

1. Ensuring parental notification;

2. Directly identifying the specific instructional material and sexually explicit subjects; and

3. Permitting the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexually explicit visual material and provide, as an alternative, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.

C. Each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than the model policies developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.

2. That the Department of Education shall develop and make available to each school board model policies pursuant to subsection B of § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than July 31, 2022.

3. That each school board shall adopt policies pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than January 1, 2023.

4. That the provisions of this act shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools.

SENATE BILL NO. 656

Offered January 19, 2022
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8, relating to the Board of Education; policy on sexually explicit instructional material.
Patron-- Dunnavant

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-16.8 as follows:

§ 22.1-16.8. Policy on sexually explicit instructional material; parental notification; alternative instructional materials.

A. The Board shall establish a policy to require each public elementary or secondary school to:

1. Notify the parent of any student whose teacher reasonably expects to provide instructional material that includes sexually explicit content, as defined by the Board. Such notification shall (i) directly identify the specific instructional material and sexually explicit content contained in such material and (ii) set forth the parent's options pursuant to subdivisions 2 and 3;

2. Permit the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexually explicit content upon request; and

3. Provide, as an alternative to instructional material and related academic activities that include sexually explicit content, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.

B. Each local school board shall comply with the policy that is established by the Board pursuant to subsection A.