By Van W. Walter SCW
LA COS State Director Julie Sandifer (L) Rep. Horton (M) LA COS LLT Member Susie Labry (R)
House Bill 466 by Louisiana State Representative Dodie Horton
CURRICULA: Provides relative to discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools
Passed by the House Education Committee 7 Yes 5 No
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 466 Original 2023 Regular Session Horton
Abstract: Provides relative to instruction on and discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity with certain public school students.
Proposed law prohibits a public school teacher, employee, or other presenter at a school from doing any of the following in grades kindergarten through 12:
(1) Incorporating into classroom instruction or discussion topics of sexual orientation or gender identity in a manner that deviates from state content standards or curricula developed or approved by the public school governing authority.
(2) Covering the topics of sexual orientation or gender identity during any extracurricular activity.
(3) Discussing his personal sexual orientation or gender identity.
Proposed law provides that no public school employee shall: (1) Use a pronoun for a student that differs from the pronoun that aligns with the student's sex unless the student's parent provides written permission.
(2) Be required to use a pronoun for any person that differs from the pronoun that aligns with that person's sex if doing so is contrary to the employee's religious or moral convictions.
(Adds R.S. 17:412)
The Committee meeting began at 0900 on April 26, 2023.
Rep. Horton opened with quotes from the existing Louisiana Parental Rights Code. She said we must preserve the family. The family is the one that teaches primary values such as respect for elders, basic manners, good conduct, and values. Parents need assurance that children will be taught state standards, not indoctrinated or confused by anyone else's ideology.
Points made by various individuals in testimony to the committee were as follows:
· Sex education should be left to the parents whenever the parents determine it is necessary.
· Sex education from Pre-K until the 6th grade is too young and confusing. States referenced as having passed regulations citing examples of appropriate ages for sexual education were Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Arizona, Iowa, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio.
· Citizens are concerned about an agenda to skew sexual education to meet an agenda that goes against the beliefs of a majority of the populace of this nation.
· Sexual education is already approved in Louisiana and has certain guidelines to follow. Many citizens feel that kids are being groomed for sexual orientation considered outside the social norm.
· Though proponents of the bill are compassionate for people who are mentally ill and have nowhere to turn for help, HB 466 is about what is best for the children of Louisiana.
· There is no academic relevancy in teaching sexual education to immature children.
· We need a return to Family and Common Sense.
JC Harmon, representing Louisiana Convention of States Action, testified on the return to the 3Rs - reading, writing, and arithmetic. The daily time in school is limited. Students need to learn the basics and do not need non-academic influences.
Rep. Horton said the states set the agenda and no outside influences or Federal imposition should be considered or allowed.
Several Representatives talked about the hundreds of emails sent in pertaining to HB466. Rep. Chuck Owen said people seemed to be talking past one another, and no one was listening to the middle. He felt the issue is too big for just the committee and that the entire Louisiana Legislature should be involved.
The bill passed from Committee 7 yes to 5 no. The vote followed party lines with one exception - a single Republican representative voted no. HB 466 now goes to the full House.
