A New Jersey state senator introduced a bill similar to Florida's Parental Rights in Education law.
State Sen. Edward Durr on Monday introduced Senate Bill 2648, which prohibits school districts from incorporating instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
In March, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
Durr's bill also requires consent from parents or guardians for students in grades seven through 12 for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Any student whose parent or guardian doesn't provide a written consent must be excused from that portion of the course without being punished or losing credits, Durr's bill states.
The bill also allows parents to sue the school district if their child receives sex or gender instruction in violation of the bill.
A district that violates the bill could risk having its funding withheld by the state.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a bill into law in 2019 requiring public schools to incorporate LGBTQ-themed content into their K-5 curricula, making New Jersey the second state to do so. California was the first.
Resource materials for the state's sex education curriculum include videos about masturbation and sexual orientation.
State Sen. Holly Schepisi, a Republican who was sent sample lesson plans given to parents at the Westfield Board of Education's Feb. 22 meeting, shared the materials on Dropbox and said they were "completely overboard with cringey detail for young kids."
"I have heard from countless parents throughout South Jersey who have expressed anger and frustration in response to this new curriculum," Durr said, referring to the sex education standards that New Jersey adopted two years ago and planned to implement this fall, The Epoch Times reported.
"They genuinely feel that their parental rights are being ignored by the Murphy administration — something that is difficult to dispute."
The Walt Disney Company's criticism of Florida’s law resulted the state dissolving Disney World's private government surrounding the theme park in Orlando, Florida.
DeSantis hinted Monday that Florida might take over Disney World's self-governing Reedy Creek Improvement District instead of ceding control of the area to other local governments.
Durr, a former trucker, unseated long-time Democrat state Sen. Steve Sweeney in last year’s election.
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