Journalist: Sydni Callaway (OSU)
Rep. Sage Walters (TCC), presented TCC-502 to the Senate this Saturday afternoon. The “Comprehensive Sex-Ed Act”, changes the curriculum to ensure that it includes information about consent as well as practicing abstinence. Additionally, the curriculum that is taught is to be medically accurate as well as age appropriate. The bill states this material must regard “abstinence, HIV and STI symptoms and causes, contraception and its relevance in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, comprehensive pregnancy and fetal development education, risk of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy, comprehensive healthy relationship education and consent.”
In regards to his bill, Walters says that “my bill just extends what in Oklahoma sexual education right now, as sexual education is very lackluster.” Outlining requirements for curriculum is important to be able to clear up what is currently set and establish them. “It’s not required in most schools, and it is abstinence only in the schools that do provide sexual education,” said Walters.
In terms of inspiration, Walters shared that he was inspired to write the bill because “I’ve had a lot of experiences with people that have dealt with sexual assault, that have dealt with either intimate partner violence in their own lives or intimate partner violence.”
Establishing the said curriculum is important to Walters. In recognizing the lack of sexual education in Oklahoma, Walters says “I’ve seen the victims recognize especially when it’s two younger people” and “because of the fact that they haven’t had any education on what they’re actually supposed to do in a sexual situation.”
Walters was surprised that his bill passed in the Senate. “In the house, I realized we need more definitions. And I thought, based on that alone, the Senate would knock it off,” said Walters.
This bill passed in the House on Thursday with a vote of 42-21, and passed in the Senate today 21-4.