Florida Senate - 2008 SENATOR AMENDMENT

Bill No. CS for SB 2692

653262

CHAMBER ACTION

Senate

Floor: WD/2R

4/17/2008 11:47 AM

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House



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Senators Deutch and Rich moved the following amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Delete lines 17 through 44

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and insert:

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     Section 1. (1) This section may be cited as the "Evolution

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and Healthy Teens Academic Freedom Act."

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     (2) As used in this section, the term:

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     (a) "Comprehensive sexual education" means information

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that:

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     1. Helps young people gain knowledge about the physical,

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biological, and hormonal changes of adolescence and subsequent

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stages of human maturation;

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     2. Develops healthy attitudes and values concerning growth,

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development, and body image;

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     3. Teaches that abstinence is the only certain way to avoid

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pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases; and

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     4. Commencing in the 6th grade:

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     a. Emphasizes the value of abstinence while not ignoring

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those adolescents who may or may not be sexually active;

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     b. Provides information about the health benefits and side

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effects of all contraceptives and as a means of preventing

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pregnancy and reducing the risk of contracting sexually

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transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS; and

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     c. Encourages family communication about sexuality among

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parents, their children, and other adult household members.

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     (b) "Factual information" includes, but is not limited to,

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medical, psychiatric, psychological, empirical, and statistical

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statements.

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     (c) "Medically accurate information" means information

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supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with

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generally accepted scientific methods and recognized as accurate

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and objective by leading professional organizations and agencies

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having relevant expertise in the field.

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     (d) "Scientific information" means germane current facts,

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data, and peer-reviewed research specific to the topic of

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chemical and biological evolution as prescribed in Florida's

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Science Standards.

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     (3) The Legislature finds that current law does not

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expressly protect the right of teachers to objectively present

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scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific

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views regarding chemical and biological evolution and medically

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accurate information regarding family planning, pregnancy or

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sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS. The

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Legislature finds that in many instances educators have

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experienced or feared discipline, discrimination, or other

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adverse consequences as a result of presenting the full range of

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scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution and

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medically accurate information regarding family planning,

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pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and

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AIDS. The Legislature further finds that existing law does not

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expressly protect students from discrimination due to their

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positions or views regarding biological or chemical evolution and

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their questioning regarding medically accurate information

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regarding family planning, pregnancy or sexually transmitted

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infections, including HIV and AIDS. The Legislature finds that

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the topic of biological and chemical evolution and comprehensive

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sexual education have generated intense controversy about the

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rights of teachers and students to hold differing views on those

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subjects. It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that this

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section expressly protect those rights.

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     (4) Every public school teacher in the state's K-12 school

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system shall have the affirmative right and freedom to

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objectively present:

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     (a) Scientific information relevant to the full range of

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scientific views regarding biological and chemical evolution in

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connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding

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chemical or biological evolution; and

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     (b) Comprehensive sexual education that is medically

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accurate, factual, and age appropriate in connection with

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teaching any prescribed abstinence-only curriculum regarding

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human sexuality.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2008.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     Delete lines 2 through 7

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and insert:

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An act relating to the teaching of chemical and biological

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evolution and human sexuality; providing a short title;

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providing legislative intent; defining the terms

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"scientific information", "medically accurate

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information", "comprehensive sexual education", and

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"factual information"; providing public school teachers

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with a right to present scientific information relevant to

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the full range of views on biological and chemical

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evolution and to provide certain information to students

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concerning human sexuality to provide information that

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meets specific criteria; providing an effective date.

4/16/2008  7:28:00 PM     30-07866A-08

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.