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53	53	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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55	55	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
56	56
57	57	SENATE BILL 140 By: Dahm
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63	63	AS INTRODUCED
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65	65	An Act relating to school curriculum; creating the
66	66	Oklahoma Science Education Act; providing short
67	67	title; providing for the creatio n of a school
68	68	environment that encourages the exploration of
69	69	scientific theories; allowing teachers to help
70	70	students analyze certain scien tific strengths and
71	71	weaknesses; prohibiting the promotion of religious or
72	72	non-religious beliefs; providing for certain
73	73	notification; providing for certain immunity;
74	74	providing for codification; providing an effective
75	75	date; and declaring an emergency .
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81	81	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
82	82	SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
83	83	in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 11 -103.15 of Title 70, unless
84	84	there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
85	85	A. This act shall be kno wn and may be cited as the “Oklahoma
86	86	Science Education Act”.
87	87	B. The State Board of Educ ation, school district boards of
88	88	education, school district superintendents, and school principals
89	89	shall endeavor to create an environment within publ ic school
90	90	districts that encourages students to explore scientific questions,
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142	142	learn about scientific evide nce, develop critical thinking skills,
143	143	and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion
144	144	about controversial issues.
145	145	C. The State Board of Education, school district boards of
146	146	education, school district superintendents , and school principals
147	147	shall endeavor to assist teachers to find effective ways to present
148	148	the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies.
149	149	Teachers shall be permitted to help students understand, analyze,
150	150	critique, and review in an objective manner the sc ientific strengths
151	151	and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in
152	152	the course being taught using evidence-based, peer-reviewed
153	153	material.
154	154	D. Neither the State Board of Education , nor any school
155	155	district board of education, school distr ict superintendent, or
156	156	school principal shall prohibit an y teacher in a public school
157	157	district in this state from helping students understand, analyze,
158	158	critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths
159	159	and weaknesses of existing scientif ic theories covered in the course
160	160	being taught using evidence-based, peer-reviewed material.
161	161	E. The provisions of this section shall only protect the
162	162	teaching of scientific information and shall not be co nstrued to
163	163	promote any religious or non -religious doctrine, promote
164	164	discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs
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216	216	or non-beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or
217	217	non-religion.
218	218	F. By no later than the start of the 2023-2024 school year, the
219	219	State Department of Education shall notify school district boards of
220	220	education and school district superi ntendents of public schools in
221	221	this state of the provisions of this act. Each sch ool district
222	222	board of education and schoo l district superintendent shall notify
223	223	all employees within the school district of the provisions of this
224	224	act.
225	225	G. A teacher as defined by Section 1-116 of Title 70 of the
226	226	Oklahoma Statutes who complies with the provisi ons of this act shall
227	227	be granted immunity from civil liability or termination of
228	228	employment for acts described in subse ction C of this section.
229	229	SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
230	230	SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preserva tion
231	231	of the public peace, health , or safety, an emergency is hereby
232	232	declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and
233	233	be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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235	235	59-1-832 EB 1/4/2023 3:18:57 PM

Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB140 Compare Versions