HSB 34 (LSB 2070YC (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER)

A BILL FOR

An Act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  The following shall be taught in grades seven and eight:  English-language arts; social studies, including instruction related to civics; mathematics; science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; career exploration and development; physical education; music; and visual art. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration and development shall be designed so that students are appropriately prepared to create an individual career and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate foundational career and technical education concepts aligned with the six career and technical education service areas as defined in  subsection 5, paragraph “h”, incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills to facilitate career readiness, and introduce students to career opportunities within the local community and across this state. The health curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based information regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic schools.  The human growth and development curriculum shall include all of the following:
   a.  Human biology related to pregnancy.
   b.  Human development inside the womb.
   c.  A high-definition ultrasound video, at least three minutes in duration, showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development.
   d.  A high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation, comparable to the meet baby Olivia video developed by live action, showing the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every significant marker of pregnancy until birth.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph j, subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  One unit of health education which may include personal health; food and nutrition; environmental health; safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; substance use disorder and nonuse; emotional and social health; health resources; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and prevention and control of disease, including age-appropriate and research-based information regarding sexually transmitted diseases.  The health education curriculum shall include all of the following:
   (a)  Human biology related to pregnancy.
   (b)  Human development inside the womb.
   (c)  A high-definition ultrasound video, at least three minutes in duration, showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development.
   (d)  A high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation, comparable to the meet baby Olivia video developed by live action, showing the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every significant marker of pregnancy until birth.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph g, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (01)  The educational standards established in section 256.11 relating to the human growth and development curriculum for grades seven and eight or the health curriculum for grades nine through twelve.
    Sec. 4.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 256.11 relating to the human growth and development curriculum for grades seven and eight and the health curriculum for grades nine through twelve.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill incorporates provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades 7 through 12.
   The bill requires that the human growth and development curriculum provided by school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in grades 7 and 8, and the health curriculum in grades 9 through 12, include instruction regarding human biology related to pregnancy and human development inside the womb. The bill also requires that such curriculum include a video, at least three minutes in duration, showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development, and a rendering or animation, comparable to the meet baby Olivia video developed by live action, showing the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every significant marker of pregnancy until birth.