35,000 people have signed online petition against sex education bill HB 363

On Monday, a new Brigham Young University poll showed that 58 percent of 472 voters surveyed agree or strongly agree with the statement, "Public schools in Utah should teach about the use of contraceptives."

The poll, out of BYU’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, also found, however, that the group most opposed to allowing schools to teach about contraceptives was "strong Republicans." Among all 472 responses over the past 10 days, about 30 percent said they disagreed or strongly disagreed with teaching about contraceptives in school. Among strong Republicans, about 63 percent disagreed with teaching the topic.

The sex education bill, HB363, would prohibit schools from teaching teens about contraceptives and allow school districts to drop sex education classes altogether.

Matthew Burbank, an associate professor of political science at the University of Utah said, "I think this is one of those bills which was not a bill that came about because constituents were dissatisfied and pushing their state legislators to do something," Burbank said. "I think this largely came about because state legislators, for whatever reasons, felt like this was something they wanted to do." Lisa Schnecker Salt Lake Tribune

House Bill 363

House Sponsor: Rep. Bill Wright, R-Holden  Senate Sponsor Margaret Dayton R- Orem

Health Education Amendments -- This bill would require all Utah public school districts to teach an abstinence-only sex ed curriculum and allow districts to opt out of teaching sex ed.

HB363 Text

 The Senate passed the bill 19-10 and the House passed it by a margin of 45-28.  The bill is now waiting for the Governor to sign it or veto it.

More than 35,000 people have signed an online petition urging Herbert to veto the bill, and various groups have taken sides.  Sign Petition asking Governor to veto the bill.