An official report published on Friday found that teaching public school students about fetal growth and development won’t cost the state any additional money.
S.B. 450 is a good bill by Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville) and Rep. Kendra Moore (R — Lincoln) that lets public school students see a recording of a high-definition ultrasound video as part of human fetal growth and development education courses.
The bill also contains provisions letting students learn important facts about how unborn children develop in the womb.
The Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 450 last week. However, the bill could not be presented to the House Education Committee before state officials reviewed what it would cost to implement S.B. 450. Friday’s fiscal impact statement showed S.B. 450 will not cost the state a dime.
This year, lawmakers have proposed multiple laws that would let public school students see ultrasound videos of unborn children and learn about fetal development in the womb.
H.B. 1180 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) ensures public schools show students a high-definition ultrasound video that is at least three minutes long as part of sex-education and human growth and development education courses. The bill also ensures students see a video like Live Action’s computer-animated “Meet Baby Olivia” video that teaches about human development from conception to birth.
And H.B. 1946 — which is also by Rep. Bentley and Sen. Penzo — requires public schools to provide human growth and development education in grades 6 – 12 every school year. Under this bill, the courses must include a three-minute high-definition ultrasound video and a high-quality, computer animated video depicting the process of fertilization and every stage of fetal development.
As we have said before, it’s good to see lawmakers taking a strong interest in teaching public school students about unborn children.
Ultrasound technology provides what some people call a “window into the womb.” Good bills like H.B. 1180, S.B. 450, and H.B. 1946 help students understand that unborn children are living human beings.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
