HB 1608
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Summary
The original HB1608 forbids students in grades K-3 from being instructed on Human Sexuality.
This bill was modified on February 20, 2023 in an education committee hearing to include AM07, which pertains to gender identity.
Key People
- Rep. Michelle Davis is the author of HB1608.
- Rep. Jake Teshka proposed AM07 to include sexuality reporting. He is a co-author of HB1608.
- Rep. Chris Jeter (R-88 McCordsville, Fortville, Ingalls) is a co-author of HB1608.
- Rep. Robert Heaton (R-46 Middlebury, Spencer) is a co-author of HB1608.
Amendment Summary
AM07 - Gender Identity
Name and Pronoun Legislation
Requires teachers to use pronouns and legal name according to student's sex assigned at birth unless a request is made prior to the start of a school year by either
- Emancipated student
- Student's parent
to instruct a teacher to use the student's preferred pronouns and preferred name.
Notification of Parents
AM07 requires teachers to notify a student's parents if the student requests to be called by a name inconsistent with the student's sex assigned at birth.
No Punishment
Even if a parent goes through the pronoun/name change request process before the start of a school year, if a teacher chooses to ignore the request, they will not be punishable.
AM02 - Student Requests
Clarification on student requests
If a student poses a question to a teacher about a topic related to sexuality, a teacher may answer it as they like. Explicitly states that the bill does not limit teacher's ability to answer questions, only their ability to add the topic of sexuality to a curriculum.