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House rejects amendment to expand parental opt-outs from health curriculum topics
Summary
Delegates debated an amendment to allow parents to opt students out of lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation in Maryland—s comprehensive health education framework. The amendment, offered by a delegate from Carroll County, failed on a roll call after extended debate about student safety, parental rights and court precedent.
A delegate from Carroll County offered an amendment to House Bill 161, which implements the Maryland Comprehensive Health Education Framework, to allow parents to opt their children out of both family life and lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation. The amendment was rejected by the House after extended floor debate and a roll-call vote that left the amendment defeated.
The amendment sponsor, identified in the record as the gentlewoman from Carroll County (amendment sponsor), said the change would let jurisdictions follow local family-life advisory council policies and avoid forcing students to miss other classes: "rather than parsing out both sections of the bill, we would like to be able to continue to follow what we have decided in Carroll County." She cited local opt-in rates that, she said, showed most…
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