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