SB 1031, prohibiting any survey or study of minors’ sexual behaviors or activities from taking place in public schools
March 13, 2023 | Austin, TX
How do you feel about your local schools conducting or allowing third parties to conduct surveys on your children’s sexual behavior? Would that be inappropriate? Intrusive? Offensive?
That is what the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will be discussing in a hearing on Wed., March 15 at 8:30 am. The legislation in question is SB 1031, authored by Senator Bob Hall of Edgewood (SD-2).
Statement from Senator Hall:
“Government funded studies on minors’ sexual behaviors are being conducted without parental consent. In 2017, Columbia University tested the MyPEEPS mobile app with young men aged 13-18 in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; and Birmingham, AL; and paid participants up to $275. The study had 764 participants and was completed in June 2021.
“Researchers asked children as young as 13 about their sex partners, frequency and type of sexual activity, and about their use of STD prevention methods. This was done without parents’ knowledge. In fact, the researchers specifically stated that parents knowing about their youth’s activity would hamper their research efforts.
“These efforts were continued through June 2021, with different versions of the MyPEEPS app. Enrollment was promoted on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
“This bill would prohibit any survey or study of minors’ sexual behaviors or activities from taking place in public schools, regardless of the entity conducting the research.
“SB 1031 would prohibit public universities in Texas from conducting research on sexual practices of children, and in all other instances, would require written parental consent for any sex study on a minor.
“SB 1031 creates a civil and criminal penalty, and requires mandatory reporting of any allegations of abuse or neglect to the Department of Family and Protective Services.
“As proposed, SB 1031 amends current law relating to studies or surveys on children’s sexual behavior conducted at or by a public primary or secondary school, a public institution of higher education, a prescription drug manufacturer, a research entity, or another person, creates criminal offenses, and imposes civil penalties.”
Take Action
Contact your state senator to voice your support for SB 1031.