With a 6-2 vote and absent discussion, Texas’ Senate Education Committee members moved a bill forward that would pretty much banish Planned Parenthood’s presence from Texas schools.
Two committee Democrats — Sens. Royce West and Leticia Van de Putte — were the dissenters in the Tuesday vote.
Existing law only requires that public schools that provide sex education courses first give the public a chance to review the course materials — and that parents have the right to opt their children out of the classes, The American-Statesman reports. This new bill adds more requirements.
If ultimately passed, the new bill would prohibit any individuals from providing sexual education in schools if they are members of any organization that performs abortions — or if they even have ties to any group that does abortions, The American-Statesman reports. That rules out Planned Parenthood from participating in Texas’ school sexual education.
And the bill, if passed, would require that parents sign a waiver for their children to participate in classes that are taught by someone other than a school district worker.
This bill banning Planned Parenthood was introduced by Republican Sen. Ken Paxton. A similar version is moving in the House, from Republican Jeff Leach.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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