SB269 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Sex education, public K-12 school, content and course materials revised, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Summary

SB 269 would revise Alabama's public K-12 sex education content to emphasize abstinence and a defined set of topics and requirements for course materials.

What This Bill Does

It would amend Section 16-40A-2 to require sex education programs to stress abstinence as the only completely effective protection and to set lawful-marriage standards for unmarried students. It would require course materials and instruction to be age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally appropriate, and to cover a list of specified elements including self-control, contraception statistics, legal and financial information related to pregnancy, abuse reporting, resisting peer pressure, and parenting responsibilities. It also includes an explicit statement that homosexuality is not acceptable and that homosexual conduct is a crime under Alabama law, with the measure taking effect after the Governor signs and it becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students in Alabama who will learn under the revised content and standards.
• Educators, school districts, and curriculum developers who must implement and deliver the revised materials and ensure compliance.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-40A-2 to revise focus of sex education content and instruction in public schools.
• Minimum emphasis on abstinence as the only completely effective protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
• Abstinence outside of lawful marriage is the expected standard for unmarried students.
• Course materials must be age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally appropriate.
• 1) Emphasize abstinence as the only reliable method; 2) stress self-control and delaying sexual activity; 3) include statistics on contraception reliability and the protective effects; 4) provide information on laws about pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing; 5) provide information on laws prohibiting sexual abuse and reporting options; 6) information on coping with unwanted exploitation; 7) methods to resist peer pressure; 8) emphasize that homosexuality is not acceptable and is criminal in the state; 9) comprehensive instruction in parenting skills and responsibilities, including child support and penalties for non-payment.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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