85R8796 KKA-F
By: Swanson H.B. No. 1485
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to academic freedom for public school teachers providing
science instruction.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that:
(1) an important purpose of science education is to
inform students about scientific evidence and help students develop
critical thinking skills necessary to become intelligent,
productive, and scientifically informed citizens;
(2) the teaching of some scientific subjects required
to be taught under the curriculum framework developed by the State
Board of Education may cause controversy, including climate change,
biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, and human
cloning;
(3) some teachers may be unsure of expectations
concerning how to present information when controversy arises
concerning a scientific subject; and
(4) the protection of a teacher's academic freedom is
necessary to enable the teacher to provide effective instruction
that serves the purpose stated in Subdivision (1) of this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0162 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0162. ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR TEACHERS. (a) The State
Board of Education, school district boards of trustees, and school
district administrators, including school principals, shall
endeavor to:
(1) create an environment within public elementary and
secondary schools that encourages students to:
(A) explore scientific questions;
(B) learn about scientific evidence;
(C) develop critical thinking skills; and
(D) respond appropriately and respectfully to
differences of opinion about scientific subjects required to be
taught under the curriculum framework developed by the State Board
of Education; and
(2) assist teachers in finding effective ways to
present scientific subjects required to be taught under the
curriculum framework developed by the State Board of Education that
may cause controversy.
(b) The State Board of Education, a school district board of
trustees, or a school district administrator, including a school
principal, may not prohibit a teacher from helping students
understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner
the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific
theories included in a course taught in accordance with the
curriculum framework developed by the State Board of Education.
(c) This section applies only to teaching scientific
subjects included within the curriculum framework developed by the
State Board of Education. This section may not be construed to
promote:
(1) any religious or nonreligious doctrine; or
(2) discrimination for or against religion or
irreligion or a particular set of religious beliefs or nonbeliefs.
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than August 1, 2017, the Texas
Education Agency shall notify the State Board of Education and the
board of trustees and superintendent of each school district in
this state of the provisions of this Act.
(b) Not later than August 15, 2017, each superintendent
shall notify each district administrator, including a school
principal, and district teacher of the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
school year.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.