x
Breaking News
More () »

Bill dealing with sex education in Indiana schools heads to Senate vote

Senate Bill 128 would give school boards the final say on lessons in sex education, which is typically taught starting in grades 4 through 12, but is not required.

INDIANAPOLIS — Tuesday is the deadline for the Senate to vote on bills that have made it out of committee and the amendment process.

Monday was the last chance for Senators to offer changes to bills and to vote on those changes.

Senate Bill 128 would give school boards the final say on lessons in sex education, which is typically taught starting in grades 4 through 12, but not a required subject.

Under the bill, schools teaching about sexuality must approve the teaching materials in a public meeting and publish them on the district's website. The district must outline what topics will be dealt with and whether a man or woman will teach the class and if boys and girls will be taught together or separate.

The bill calls for it to take effect immediately if it gets passed. An amendment to give school districts until July was defeated.

Another amendment to the bill would have defined human sexuality.

"This amendment attempts to define comprehensive sexual education. This amendment ensures we are all on the same page when we use that term," said State Sen. J.D. Ford, D-District 29.

That amendment was also defeated.

RELATED: Federal judge declines to block new state law barring teaching of sex in grades K-3

Like Senate Bill 128, Senate Bill 240 is also headed to a vote on Tuesday.

SB 240 would increase penalties for taking part in street takeovers, blocking traffic to drive around at high speeds in circles. If someone is injured during one, the people taking part in the event would automatically be looking at prison time.

If caught a second time, the person would face loss of their vehicle.

"We have seen these street takeovers, and these things happen which is really really dangerous, even for law enforcement dangerous, so we need to get this bill passed, but anything we can do to hold drivers accountable when they're acting recklessly or something happens, when they hurt or kill somebody, I'm all for," said the bill's author, State Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-District 32.

RELATED: 'Spinning' could send people to prison or take their car under proposed Indiana law

Before You Leave, Check This Out