TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Legislation moving in the Florida Residence would ban discussion of menstrual cycles and other human sexuality subjects in elementary grades.

The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Stan McClain would restrict public college instruction on human sexuality, sexually transmitted illnesses and connected subjects to grades six by means of 12. McClain confirmed at a current committee meeting that discussions about menstrual cycles would also be restricted to these grades.

“So if small girls encounter their menstrual cycle in 5th grade or 4th grade, will that prohibit conversations from them because they are in the grade reduce than sixth grade?” asked state Rep. Ashley Gantt, a Democrat who taught in public schools and noted that girls as young as ten can commence possessing periods.

“It would,” McClain responded.

The GOP-backed legislation cleared the Residence Education Good quality Subcommittee on Wednesday by a 13-five vote primarily along celebration lines. It would also enable parents to object to books and other components their kids are exposed to, need schools to teach that a person’s sexual identity is determined biologically at birth and set up additional scrutiny of specific educational components by the state Division of Education.

McClain mentioned the bill’s intent is to bring uniformity to sex education across all of Florida’s 67 college districts and supply additional pathways for parents to object to books or other components they uncover inappropriate for younger kids.

At the committee meeting, Gantt asked regardless of whether teachers could face punishment if they go over menstruation with younger students.

“My concern is they will not really feel protected to have these conversations with these small girls,” she mentioned.

McClain mentioned “that would not be the intent” of the bill and that he is “amenable” to some modifications to its language. The measure ought to be authorized by yet another committee prior to it can attain the Residence floor a comparable bill is pending in the Senate.

An e-mail searching for comment was sent Saturday to the workplace of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is extensively observed as a possible 2024 presidential candidate.

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