The Legislature gave final passage Tuesday to a bill that would let schools skip teaching sex education and prohibit instruction in the use of contraception. [...]
A number of lawmakers, all Democrats, rose to speak against the bill Tuesday and ask questions. But Senate bill sponsor Sen. Margaret Datyon, R-Orem, refused to answer questions about the bill, saying "I think everybody basically knows where they are on this issue. Obviously, the senators may speak, but I don’t know that it’s going to be beneficial for me to try to debate or answer questions." [...]
Now, parents must opt their children into sex education classes if they want them to participate, and districts may already choose to teach abstinence only. Under the bill, however, districts may choose not to teach the topic at all, or, if they do teach it, they must teach abstinence only.