SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was signed by the governor on Friday, creating a requirement that public schools that offer sex education curricula include a lesson about the risks of sexting.

“Technology has grown a lot in the last decade, and our education needs to adapt as well,” Stadelman said. “This new law requires those schools that teach sex education to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”

The legislation would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to revise their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

“Students should know about the realities of what may seem like a harmless act,” Stadelman said. “We can’t expect kids to know the importance and dangers of sharing sexually explicit images.”

The legislation was introduced by State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford), Stadelman’s counterpart in the Illinois House of Representatives.

The new law, originally House Bill 24, takes effect immediately.