An Oklahoma House committee on Monday advanced a bill (HB 2797) that would require public high schools to promote an antiabortion-rights agenda, the Tulsa World reports.
The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Ann Coody (R), said the bill would require schools to tell students that life begins at conception. In addition, the measure would authorize antiabortion-rights public service announcements funded by the state. The measure also includes language stating that Oklahoma public policy "favor[s] child birth over abortion."
Tony Lauinger -- director of Oklahomans for Life, which supports the bill -- said parents would be allowed to opt their children out of the antiabortion-rights curriculum. He said he did not know how the bill's curriculum provision or public service announcements requirement would be implemented.
Coody said budget constraints would prevent the measure, if passed, from being implemented this year. However, she said enacting the measure would establish that the state Legislature opposes abortion rights.
According to the World, opponents of the bill questioned why the bill does not also address sexuality education, including information about contraception (Krehbiel, Tulsa World, 2/16).
