Though one conservative senator described his colleagues actions as a lawmakers’ version of the movie Groundhog Day, the state Senate has again advanced their version of a sex education bill that they have previously authorized four other times.

With little objection or discussion against the bill, the upper chamber passed a redrafted version of An Act relative to health youth on Thursday, marking at least the fifth time that a nearly identical piece of legislation has made it passed the state’s 40 senators.

“Sexual education is essential to young people’s health, personal relationships, life goals, and so much more. Our state, the youth in our state, need information, resources, skills, to make informed decisions and build their future without judgment or shame,” state Sen. Sal DiDomenico said.

The bill, as written, would “ensure districts that elect to provide sexual education use medically-accurate, research based” materials that includes age appropriate information on consent, gender identity, sexual orientation, contraception, the health benefits of delaying sex, and healthy relationships.

“Currently we have no guarantee that schools use medically accurate or research-informed curricula because there are no data collection in this area,” DiDomenico said. “There is no evidence that abstinence-only until marriage education delays teen sex. In fact, research shows that harmful impacts of abstinence-only programs lead to higher rates of teen pregnancy and birth rates.”

Republican Minority Leader Bruce Tarr pointed out that in addition to it being a Leap Day in the Senate, it was also apparently Groundhog Day, before explaining that the legislative repetition reminded him of the character played by Bill Murray in the 1993 film.

“I would draw a distinction. Groundhog Day in the Senate does not condemn you to repeating the same thing over and over, so I would suggest we pay attention to amendments proposed to make this bill better,” Tarr said.

Tarr offered amendments which would have allowed parents to review sex ed classroom materials before their students undertook any coursework and opt out if they found it appropriate, to allow teachers with a religious objection to decline to teach sex ed courses, and to let individual town and city governments approve sex ed curriculums at the local level, among others.

Changing the proposal slightly from its previous editions, Tarr seemed to indicate, could give it more of a chance to pass in the state House, where the bill has gone to die on all four previous occasions. All of his eight amendments were rejected without discussion.

According to the State House News Service, House Speaker Ron Mariano has already indicated he will again let the sexual education bill die when it reaches the lower chamber.

Herald wire service contributed.