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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to teaching chemical and biological

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evolution; providing a short title; providing

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legislative intent; providing public school teachers

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with a right to present scientific information relevant

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to the full range of views on biological and chemical

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origins; prohibiting a teacher from being discriminated

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against for presenting such information; prohibiting

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students from being penalized for subscribing to a

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particular position on evolution; clarifying that the

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act does not require any change in state curriculum

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standards or promote any religious position; providing

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an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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

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Freedom Act."

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     (2) 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. 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. The

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Legislature further finds that existing law does not expressly

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protect students from discrimination due to their positions or

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views regarding biological or chemical evolution. The Legislature

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finds that the topic of biological and chemical evolution has

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generated intense controversy about the rights of teachers and

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students to hold differing views on those subjects. It is

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therefore the intent of the Legislature that this section

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expressly protects those rights.

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     (3) 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 scientific information relevant to the full

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range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical

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evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum

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regarding chemical or biological origins.

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

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system may not be disciplined, denied tenure, terminated, or

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otherwise discriminated against for objectively presenting

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scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific

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views regarding biological or chemical evolution in connection

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with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or

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biological origins.

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     (5) Public school students in the state's K-12 school

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system may be evaluated based upon their understanding of course

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materials, but may not be penalized in any way because he or she

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subscribes to a particular position or view regarding biological

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or chemical evolution.

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     (6) The rights and privileges contained in this section

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apply when the subject of biological or chemical origins is part

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of the curriculum. The provisions of this section do not require

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or encourage any change in the state curriculum standards for the

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K-12 public school system.

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     (7) This section shall not be construed to promote any

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religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a

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particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination

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for or against religion or nonreligion.

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