Georgia CommonsHB 1505: Quality Basic Education Act; prescribed course of study in sex education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention instruction is age appropriate and medically accurate; provide
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 6, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 1505
By: Representatives Wade of the 9th, Donatucci of the 105th, Dempsey of the 13th, Hong of the 103rd, and Silcox of the 53rd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide that the prescribed course of study in sex education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention instruction is age appropriate and medically accurate and promotes sexual abstinence; to include the subject of personal responsibility in such course of study; to provide for implementation; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-143, relating to sex education and AIDS prevention instruction, implementation, and student exemption, as follows:
"20-2-143.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'medically accurate' means that which is based on sound scientific evidence and accepted medical knowledge, is consistent with established principles of medicine, and is supported by reputable medical authorities, research studies, and clinical evidence.
(a.1)(1) Each local board of education shall prescribe a an age-appropriate and medically accurate course of study in sex education and AIDS human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention instruction for such grades and grade levels in the public school system as shall be determined by the State Board of Education. Such course of study shall implement either the minimum course of study provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section or its equivalent, as approved by the State Board of Education. Each local board of education shall be authorized to supplement and develop the exact approach of content areas of such minimum course of study with such specific curriculum standards as it may deem appropriate. Such standards shall include age-appropriate and medically accurate instruction relating to the significance of personal boundaries and responsibility in relationships, the handling of peer pressure, the promotion of high self-esteem, local community values, the legal consequences of parenthood, and abstinence from sexual activity as an effective method of prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
(2) In the event a local board of education offers more than one course of study in sex education, including both an abstinence based course and a comprehensive course, the local board of education shall ensure that:
(A) A parent or legal guardian of each student is provided the opportunity to select, in writing, the course of study in which such student will be enrolled; and
(B) If a parent or legal guardian does not make an affirmative written selection, the student shall be enrolled by default in the abstinence based course of study.
(3) Any comprehensive course of study in sex education offered pursuant to this Code section shall comply with all requirements of this Code section and applicable state law, including but not limited to, the requirement that instruction emphasize sexual abstinence as the most effective and safest method of preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and other physical, mental, and emotional harm resulting from underage sexual activity.
(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit a parent’s or legal guardian’s right to exempt a student from sex education instruction pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section.
(b) The State Board of Education shall prescribe a an age-appropriate and medically accurate minimum course of study in sex education and AIDS human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention instruction which may be included as a part of a course of study in comprehensive health education for such grades and grade levels in the public school system as shall be determined by the state board and shall establish standards for its administration. The course may include age-appropriate and medically accurate instruction concerning human biology, conception, pregnancy, birth, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome infections, and human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) based on content developed by the Department of Public Health. The course shall include age-appropriate and medically accurate instruction concerning the legal consequences of parenthood, including, without being limited to, the legal obligation of both parents to support a child and legal penalties or restrictions upon failure to support a child, including, without being limited to, the possible suspension or revocation of a parent's driver's license and occupational or professional licenses. The course shall also include annual age-appropriate instruction for students in kindergarten through grade nine concerning awareness and prevention of sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in kindergarten through grade nine. A manual setting out the details of such course of study shall be prepared by or approved by the State School Superintendent in cooperation with the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, and such expert advisers as they may choose.
(c) The minimum course of study to be prescribed by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall be ready for implementation not later than July 1, 1988 August 1, 2027. Each local board shall implement either such minimum course of study or its equivalent not later than July 1, 1989 2028. Any local board of education which fails to comply with this subsection shall not be eligible to receive any state funding under this article until such minimum course of study or its equivalent has been implemented.
(d) Any parent or legal guardian of a child to whom the course of study set forth in this Code section is to be taught shall have the right to elect, in writing, that such child not receive such course of study.
(e) All curricula and courses of instruction implemented under this Code section shall emphasize sexual abstinence as the best method of optimizing student health because it is the only completely reliable method of avoiding pregnancy; sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and other physical, mental, and emotional harm resulting from underage sexual activity."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.