Senate Bill 1172 aims to enhance the human growth and development instructional programs offered by school boards in Wisconsin for grades K-12. The bill mandates that these programs include specific topics, such as communication about sexuality, reproductive anatomy, puberty, gender identity, and responsible decision-making regarding sexual behavior. It emphasizes the importance of providing medically accurate information and requires that the instruction supports communication between students and their families. Additionally, the bill allows volunteer health care providers to offer this instruction, which was previously prohibited under current law.

The bill also modifies the authority of the state superintendent of public instruction to apply for federal funds, shifting the focus to evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs. Key amendments include the repeal and recreation of certain sections of the law, as well as the renumbering and amendment of existing provisions to align with the new requirements. Notably, the bill stresses that abstinence should be taught as a reliable method to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, while also ensuring that comprehensive information about contraceptives and disease prevention is provided.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 115.29(7), 115.29, 118.019(1), 118.019, 118.019(1m)(a), 118.019(2)(intro.), 118.019(2)(a)5, 118.019(2)(a)10, 118.019(2)(a)11