ATTENTION- Contact your school board & state senators

Eagle Forum of Wisconsin
Brookfield, WI 53008-0086
eagles@eagleforumofwisconsin.org

Dear School Board Member:

Eagle Forum of Wisconsin would like to bring to your attention proposed legislation concerning Human Growth and Development Curriculum which will negatively impact local control of school boards and place students unknowingly at risk of sexual predator laws. A link to SB324/AB458 (Healthy Youth Act), which was passed by the Assembly, is listed below and may be placed before the Wisconsin Senate as late as mid January when the legislative session resumes, or as early as a December 16th special session.
Ø Assembly Bill 458 (Full Text) - http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB-458.pdf
Ø Assembly Bill 458 (Bill History) - http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB458hst.html

Please review this letter by Representative Brett Davis confirming the dangers of SB324/AB458.

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Letter from Representative Brett Davis opposing SB342/AB458:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding Assembly Bill (AB) 458, tagged the "Healthy Youth Act" by its supporters. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

I share your concerns and did vote against this bill in the Assembly Education Committee.... I also voted no on passage of the bill on the floor of the State Assembly. Unfortunately, despite our bipartisan opposition, AB 458 was passed by the State Assembly on November 5th.

I believe there is no problem with current law regarding the development of sexual education curriculum in schools. Under current law, if a school district wishes to teach human growth and development classes they must create a community advisory committee comprised of parents, teachers, school administrators, pupils, health care professionals, members of the clergy, and other residents of the school district. This advisory panel assists the school district with the development of curriculum for sexual education.

However, AB 458 would negate the curriculum that school districts across the state have put considerable time and effort into developing, including abstinence-based curriculum. Instead, AB 458 would strip away local control and replace it with mandated curriculum from the bill. I feel this is wrong and believe local communities, not Madison, should decide what they feel is best suited for their local school districts.

Along with Representative Leah Vukmir, I did offer an amendment on the floor of the Assembly, but it was voted down. The amendment would have returned control of the curriculum back to local school districts ....

Sincerely,
Brett Davis
State Representative
80th Assembly District
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Following are common sense amendments to SB324/AB458, which failed to pass in the Assembly:

· Amendment 4 - has been tabled (defeated)
This amendment would have allowed for single-sex instruction.
Final Vote: Ayes-52, Nays-41 Not Voting-6
(Defeating this amendment will place young students in our state in a very embarrassing situation in the classroom.)
· Amendment 5 - has been tabled (defeated).
This amendment would have restored instruction on Marriage and Parental Responsibility back into the curriculum.
Final Vote: Ayes-50, Nays-43, Not Voting - 6
· Amendment 6 - has been tabled (defeated).
This amendment would have required kids at an age-appropriate level to receive instruction on Wisconsin's sexual assault laws and Sex Offender Registry.
Final Vote: Ayes - 51, Nays-40, Not Voting - 8
Background Info:
§948.02(2), Wis. Stats., states that it is a Class C Felony for anyone to have sexual contact or engage in sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years of age. The penalty for this offense is “A fine of up to $100,000 or imprisonment up to 40 years or both.” {Source: Legislative Reference Bureau} To access Wisconsin’s State Statutes, see http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/stats.html
For many crimes, 17-year-olds are charged as adults under Wisconsin law.
· Amendment 8 - has been tabled (defeated).
This amendment would have required the presentation of fetal development information. "Instruction under this subdivision shall include showing a videotape recording or digital recording of a human fetus captured using ultrasound imaging technology during each trimester of a woman's pregnancy."
Final Vote: Ayes - 51, Nays - 42, Not Voting - 6

Eagle Forum of Wisconsin is urging concerned school board members and parents to contact their state senators to oppose SB324/AB458 by calling the legislative hotline at 1-800-362-9472. If you wish to receive an outline of specific changes in Wisconsin statues created by SB324/AB458, or would like to help in our efforts to defeat this bill, please contact us at eagles@eagleforumofwisconsin.org.