Utah lawmakers work to mandate fetal development videos in schools

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require Utah schools to show students videos of fertilization and development of a fetus inside the womb.

HB315, titled Human Growth and Development Instruction, would require local education agencies to include specific videos as a part of their curriculum during maturation for students in fifth or sixth grade. Parents would have the option to opt out.

Schools would be required to show a video at least three minutes long that demonstrates the development of the heart, brain, sex organs and other vital organs during early fetal development. They would also have to show a video demonstrating the process of fertilization and human development inside the uterus.

When presenting the bill, its sponsor, Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele, said there is a gap in children's education in Utah.

"I went through maturation and health, but never once did anybody talk about the development of a baby," Peck said. "We've been talking a lot this year about our fertility crisis in our state, and I think this type of training would help people understand more about babies and the beauty of babies."

The bill advanced through the House Education Committee on Thursday. During the committee hearing those in favor of bill argued that it supports a pro-life point of view and helps round out students' education. Those against it argued that it is overstepping by requiring schools to show a specific video and it isn't age-appropriate for some kids.

The 'Baby Olivia' video

Peck was inspired to create this bill to have students watch the "Baby Olivia" video, a free educational video available online. When talking about the video, Peck said she thought it was a beautiful video that "tastefully" shows the development of a baby.

Noah Brandt from Live Action, the company that created the video, said the "Baby Olivia" video is "a medically accurate animated glimpse of human life in the womb from fertilization." Multiple states, including Tennessee, Kansas, Indiana, Idaho, North Dakota and Iowa, have required their schools to show the free video.

The bill does not specifically name the video, so Peck said that if the specific standards are met, schools could use different videos.

Julie Jackson with the Granite School District Board of Education said the requirements in the bill are so prescriptive that schools would have to show the "Baby Olivia" video. She also said the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criticized the video as not medically accurate.

Discussion to the bill

In response to concerns that the video isn't appropriate for young students, Peck said there is nothing graphic in the video that shows how a baby moves and develops through different stages.

Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Syracuse, said it is important for people to understand that a fetus is not just a "clump of cells" and understand how human biology works.

Critics argued that there are some medical inaccuracies in the video but Brandt said it was made in partnership with OB-GYNs.

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, argued that curriculum changes should go through the State Board of Education which approves the standard for what is taught in schools.

"Teachers dislike things thrust on them they didn't ask for," Moss said.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Molly Hart said the state's standards already have this content and schools already show videos about fetal development but they're able to choose their own.

"This bill shifts to a specific video not vetted by each community. We already vetted this video and it did not meet criteria," Hart said.

Supporters of the bill said that this bill is "pro-life."

"I think we have failed in helping people understand what's happening when a baby is developing," said Maryann Christensen from Utah Legislative Watch. "We have a cavalier attitude about life, and this bill fixes that."

Mary Taylor from Pro-Life Utah also spoke in favor of HB315.

"At 19, I had no understanding of human development in the womb," Taylor said. "When an abortion clinic counselor told me my baby was a clump of cells the size of a pencil point, I believed her. I later found out my baby was 2 1/2 inches long with a heartbeat and fingers."

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