SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers held a four-hour debate Monday evening about sex abuse prevention education and sex education but decided not to pass legislation on either issue.
One proposal from Democratic Rep. Brian King of Salt Lake City would have allowed parents to consent that their children receive a more comprehensive sex education in school than the state’s current abstinence-focused education.
It would have included more information on contraception, including emergency contraception, among other areas.
Lawmakers said they weren’t ready for the change but might be in the future.
The other proposal would change public schools’ sex abuse prevention education so parents would have to give permission before their child gets the training. Parents currently can pull their kids out if they don’t want them to participate.
Legislators said they worried the change wouldn’t help kids who are sexually abused at home.