WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 5277

By Delegate Holstein

[Introduced January 29, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section designated §18-2-9b, all relating to requiring all students enrolled in grades nine through twelve (9-12) to be provided with adoption awareness material upon request.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-9b. Adoption awareness materials.

(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, each public school in the state shall make available material on adoption awareness to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve (9-12) at the public school and/or with the school counselor.  Such public school shall require that the adoption awareness material required under this section is provided upon request by any student.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop written standards and information relating to adoption awareness material required by this section.

(c) Adoption awareness material required by this section shall include without limitation:

(1) The benefits of adoption to society;

(2) The types of adoption available;

(3) The difference between adoption through the foster care system and private adoption;

(4) The reasons adoption is preferable to abortion;

(5) Public and private resources and agencies available to assist in the adoption process;

(6) Statistical data on abortion, adoption, and childbirth;

(7) Public and private resources available for pregnant mothers and parents enrolled in public school; and

(8) a description of child and human development.

(c) A public school shall provide any information provided to students under this section that is in written form to the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to a pregnant student who is enrolled in the public school.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require all students enrolled in grades nine through twelve (9-12) to be provided with adoption awareness material upon request.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.