The proposed bill would amend current statutes by adding a new section to Title 15, Chapter 7 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, specifically focusing on the requirements for fetal and prenatal development instruction in schools. The State Board of Education (SBE) would be mandated to determine appropriate grade levels for this instruction and adopt academic standards that ensure the content is age-appropriate, factual, and focused solely on prenatal human development as a biological process. The instruction would cover various aspects of fetal and prenatal development, including fertilization, early cellular development, stages of prenatal development, major developmental milestones, and supporting biological structures necessary for development.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the instruction must be descriptive and age-appropriate, explicitly prohibiting the inclusion of topics related to sexual activity, contraception, or reproductive decision-making. It also clarifies that this instruction is not classified as sex education, thereby exempting it from parental consent or opt-out requirements. Overall, the bill aims to establish a structured framework for teaching fetal and prenatal development in Arizona schools while ensuring that the content remains focused on biological processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-712.02
House Engrossed Version: 15-115.02, 15-712.02, 36-449.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-712.02