HB505 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Sex education, curriculum contents revised, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Summary

HB505 would rewrite Alabama public school sex education to align with current data, science, and law, emphasizing abstinence and adding topics like abuse reporting and parenting responsibilities.

What This Bill Does

It requires sex education programs to emphasize abstinence as the only completely reliable method to avoid pregnancy and STDs, and to state that abstinence outside lawful marriage is the expected standard for unmarried students. Materials must be age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally appropriate. The curriculum must cover topics including contraception effectiveness, financial responsibilities of pregnancy, reporting sexual abuse, resisting peer pressure, and parenting responsibilities. It also includes a controversial provision stating that homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under state law; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Public school students in Alabama, especially unmarried school-age students, who would receive a revised sex education curriculum reflecting the new requirements.
• Teachers, school administrators, and curriculum developers who must implement and deliver the revised content with age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally appropriate materials.

Key Provisions

• Abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only completely effective protection against unwanted pregnancy, STDs, and AIDS when transmitted sexually.
• Abstinence outside of lawful marriage is the expected social standard for unmarried school-age persons.
• Course materials must be age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally appropriate.
• Course materials must include: emphasis on abstinence as the only completely reliable method to prevent teenage pregnancy and STDs; emphasis on self-control and delaying sexual activity; statistics on contraception effectiveness and limitations; information on laws about pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing.
• Information about laws prohibiting sexual abuse, the need to report abuse, and legal options for victims.
• Information on coping with unwanted physical and verbal sexual exploitation by others.
• Psychologically sound methods for resisting unwanted peer pressure.
• From a public health perspective, an explicit statement that homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under Alabama law.
• Comprehensive instruction in parenting skills and responsibilities, including paying child support, penalties for non-payment, and the legal/ethical responsibilities of child care and rearing.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education