The Arizona Senate passed a new version of a sex education bill that was vetoed by Gov. Ducey before legislative amendments.

The bill, HB 2035, would ban sex education before the fifth grade and would require parents to opt a child into courses that deal with sexual content, or be automatically left out.

Sen. Juan Mendez (D-Tempe) says this bill does more harm than good, and it takes sex education out of a safe learning environment. 

“Scare tactics about what parents should know and don’t know about what’s going on in education don’t change the fact that students are going to hear and learn about sex, whether or not parents want them to," Mendez said.

Other opponents say without sex ed for younger students, they could fall prey to sexual assault. Sen. Nancy Barto (R-Phoenix), who championed the bill, says the new legislation leaves room for sexual abuse awareness instruction, which addresses Ducey’s concerns. 

Proponents say this is about parental rights, and Barto says children are being harmed from learning “too much too soon.”

The bill returns to the House.