By: Makenzie Huber
PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) — After a debate colored by views on abortion, the Republican-dominated state House of Representatives voted 52-10 to advance a bill requiring South Dakota public schools to teach students about prenatal human growth and development.
The bill’s next stop is a state Senate committee.
If the legislation becomes law, schools would have to use resources recommended by the state Board of Education Standards for “age-appropriate and research-based instruction.”
The bill requires that instruction to include a “high-definition ultrasound video” that shows the development of the brain, heart and other major organs during prenatal development, and another ultrasound video or computer-generated rendering or animation that “shows the progress of prenatal human development from fertilization through birth.”
Videos must be at least three minutes long, and any teaching material or information used can’t be produced or provided by an organization that promotes or performs abortions. Abortion is illegal in South Dakota, except to preserve the life of the mother.
Six states require prenatal development education, according to Live Action, an anti-abortion group that has advocated for a similar law using its “Baby Olivia” video. Critics of the video say it is misleading and contains medical inaccuracies.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Tony Kayser, R-Sioux Falls, texted a video to lawmakers that would fit the bill’s requirements.
“I hope you had a chance to watch the video. It kind of hits around the miracle of life and how important it is that we actually educate our youth on life,” Kayser said.
Opponents raised concerns about the medical accuracy of materials and the standardization of materials across the state. Rep. Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, critiqued the video for measuring gestation from fertilization instead of the last menstrual period – an obstetrics standard.
“I am all about showing proper videos in schools with proper context,” Healy said. “I’m worried that we’re going to confuse students about medical texts and standard clinical language. It’s really important that if we’re going to teach this in classes, we’re doing it correctly.”
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