bill adding adoption to high school parenting lessons

The text as introduced · 381 words

89R9899 AND-F

By: Leo Wilson
H.B. No. 5100

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to instruction on adoption in the parenting and paternity

awareness program in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 28.002(p) and (p-2), Education Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(p) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the

office of the attorney general, shall develop a parenting and

paternity awareness program that a school district shall use in the

district's high school health curriculum. A school district may

use the program developed under this subsection in the district's

middle or junior high school curriculum. At the discretion of the

district, a teacher may modify the suggested sequence and pace of

the program at any grade level. The program must:

(1) address parenting skills and responsibilities,

including child support and other legal rights and responsibilities

that come with parenthood;

(2) include information related to adoption,

including information about:

(A) the differences between private adoption and

foster care;

(B) the process for adopting a child privately or

through the state foster care system; and

(C) adoption as an alternative to becoming a

parent and the process for placing a child for adoption;

(3) address relationship skills, including money

management, communication skills, and marriage preparation; and

(4) [ (3) ] in district middle, junior high, or high

schools that do not have a family violence prevention program,

address skills relating to the prevention of family violence.

(p-2) A school district may develop or adopt research-based

programs and curriculum materials for use in conjunction with the

program developed under Subsection (p). The programs and

curriculum materials may provide instruction in:

(1) child development;

(2) parenting skills, including child abuse and

neglect prevention; [ and ]

(3) the information regarding adoption described by

Subsection (p)(2); and

(4) assertiveness skills to prevent teenage

pregnancy, abusive relationships, and family violence.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.