A bill requiring lessons on consent and sexual assault passed the legislature Tuesday night after it was added as an amendment to a larger education bill.
The original House bill, written by students and sponsored by Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, never got a vote in the House chamber.
The legislation was then added by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, to House Bill 1606 during Senate debate, where it was adopted.
Under the bill, schools that already offer sex education courses in their curriculum would be required to include units on sexual violence, sexual harassment and consent.
Rehder believes this bill relates to the current conversation concerning sexual harassment and violence.
“It’s very much just a part of the Me Too movement and the fact that, you know, folks are looking at sexual assault and sexual abuse with more of a keen eye now. And saying okay we do need to do something about this, this is much more widespread,” Rehder said.
The bill was truly agreed to and finally passed, meaning its next stop is the governor’s desk.
