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OKLAHOMA CITY 鈥� An Oklahoma House committee narrowly advanced a measure that would only allow a student to receive sexual education if their parents opt in.

, by Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, also removes a requirement that students be taught about consent during sexual encounters.

Currently, state law requires parents to opt out if they don鈥檛 want their child to learn about sexual education in school, but Williams aims to flip that so parents instead have to give written permission for their child to receive it.

鈥淧eople should know what their (children) are being asked to be involved in,鈥� he said.

Williams said when he attended school, sexual education wasn鈥檛 part of the curriculum.

His bill also requires schools to include lessons dealing with biological sex classifications.

It also allows people to ignore preferred pronouns, such as he or she, if the pronouns don鈥檛 correspond to a person鈥檚 biological sex.

He said he鈥檚 concerned that parents don鈥檛 pay attention to notes that come home from school and might miss the opportunity to opt out. He believes it should be up to a parent to decide whether a child should learn about sexuality in school.

鈥淚f it passes and becomes a law, a lot more parents will be completely engaged in their children鈥檚 education because it will challenge them to be part of the decision making process,鈥� Williams said.

Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, who voted against the measure, said he鈥檚 concerned that parents, who want their children to receive sexual education, might overlook the school notes that allow them to opt in.

He said Oklahoma ranks in the Top 10 in and for some , especially in rural areas.

Some parents believe trained sexual education teachers are better prepared to educate about preventing the spread of those diseases, Archer said.

He said he鈥檚 also concerned that the bill removes the requirement to teach students about consent.

Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, said requiring parents to opt in allows parents to provide 鈥減ositive affirmation鈥� that children should participate.

But Rep. Jared Deck, D-Norman, said he鈥檚 concerned that the change might violate federal laws that prohibit in education programs.

Students whose parents aren鈥檛 actively involved might miss out on sex education, Deck said.

鈥淲hen we send kids home to abusive spaces, to parents who are irresponsible, what is the consequence for their actions or their lack of actions whenever they aren鈥檛 teaching,鈥� he said, adding that he鈥檚 concerned a lack of comprehensive sex education could lead to negative family outcomes.

He also said the lawmakers are continually changing the state鈥檚 curriculum at a time when school districts need dependability. Local communities want the power to decide what鈥檚 being taught in their schools, Deck said. They don鈥檛 want lawmakers dictating that to them, he said.

The measure, which passed 4-3, heads to the full House.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: [email protected]. Follow Oklahoma Voice on and .

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