DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 747 Original 2022 Regular Session Garofalo
Abstract: Requires instruction on the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as
a prerequisite to high school graduation and prohibits inclusion of certain concepts relative
to sex, race, ethnicity, and national origin in state content standards, curricula, textbooks, and
professional development.
Proposed law requires instruction on the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
as a prerequisite to high school graduation.
Present law requires the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to prescribe a
process for textbook review, adoption, procurement, and distribution. Also requires BESE to
establish a transparent, digital process whereby the state Dept. of Education (DOE) shall review
textbooks and determine the degree to which each aligns with state content standards. Proposed law
additionally:
(1)Prohibits BESE from approving standards that provide that a particular sex, race, ethnicity,
or national origin is inherently superior or inferior to another.
(2)Prohibits BESE and DOE from endorsing or recommending any curricula, textbooks, or
instructional materials that provide that a particular sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin is
inherently superior or inferior to another.
(3)Prohibits public school governing authorities from adopting or purchasing any curricula,
textbooks, instructional materials, or staff professional development trainings or resources
that provide that a particular sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin is inherently superior,
inferior, advantaged, disadvantaged, privileged, underprivileged, biased, or oppressed
relative to another.
Proposed law requires inclusion of reference to (3) above in any request for proposal for these items
and in any contract for the purchase thereof by any public school governing authority or any other
entity that receives state funds and purchases these items for elementary and secondary educational
purposes.
Proposed law is applicable to all public schools, including charter schools.
(Amends R.S. 17:351.1(B)(1)(a) and (C)(4); Adds R.S. 17:277.1 and 3996(B)(67) and (68))