A Statement from Center for Arizona Policy President, Cathi Herrod, Esq.

Determined to protect the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children, Arizona House members today sent HB 2035 on its way to Governor Ducey. With his signature, parents will be in the driver’s seat of their children’s education on the sensitive subject of sex.

HB 2035 addresses the Governor’s concerns that led him to veto SB 1456, ensuring teachers can teach sexual assault prevention in the lower grades.

The Arizona House today passed HB 2035 along party lines with a vote of 31-29. The Senate passed it weeks ago, also along party lines.

Sponsored by Rep. Gail Griffin and Sen. Nancy Barto, HB 2035 is a commonsense, balanced approach to addressing concerns from parents about sex education in the public schools. It does not dictate curriculum nor prohibit school districts from offering sex education in grades 5-12. It simply ensures parents have the final say in whether their children will attend such sensitive instruction.

HB 2035 recognizes parents as the overseers of their children’s education, and it closes loopholes that have left parents out of the process in many ways.

Center for Arizona Policy promotes and defends the foundational values of life, marriage and family, and religious freedom. For more information, visit azpolicy.org.

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