| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to teaching chemical and biological |
| 3 | evolution; providing a short title; providing |
| 4 | legislative intent; providing public school teachers |
| 5 | with a right to present scientific information relevant |
| 6 | to the full range of views on biological and chemical |
| 7 | origins; prohibiting a teacher from being discriminated |
| 8 | against for presenting such information; prohibiting |
| 9 | students from being penalized for subscribing to a |
| 10 | particular position on evolution; clarifying that the |
| 11 | act does not require any change in state curriculum |
| 12 | standards or promote any religious position; providing |
| 13 | an effective date. |
| 14 |
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| 15 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 16 |
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| 17 | Section 1. (1) This section may be cited as the "Academic |
| 18 | Freedom Act." |
| 19 | (2) The Legislature finds that current law does not |
| 20 | expressly protect the right of teachers to objectively present |
| 21 | scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific |
| 22 | views regarding chemical and biological evolution. The |
| 23 | Legislature finds that in many instances educators have |
| 24 | experienced or feared discipline, discrimination, or other |
| 25 | adverse consequences as a result of presenting the full range of |
| 26 | scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution. |
| 27 | The Legislature further finds that existing law does not |
| 28 | expressly protect students from discrimination due to their |
| 29 | positions or views regarding biological or chemical evolution. |
| 30 | The Legislature finds that the topic of biological and chemical |
| 31 | evolution has generated intense controversy about the rights of |
| 32 | teachers and students to hold differing views on those subjects. |
| 33 | It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that this section |
| 34 | expressly protects those rights. |
| 35 | (3) Every public school teacher in the state's K-12 school |
| 36 | system shall have the affirmative right and freedom to |
| 37 | objectively present scientific information relevant to the full |
| 38 | range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical |
| 39 | evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum |
| 40 | regarding chemical or biological origins. |
| 41 | (4) A public school teacher in the state's K-12 school |
| 42 | system may not be disciplined, denied tenure, terminated, or |
| 43 | otherwise discriminated against for objectively presenting |
| 44 | scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific |
| 45 | views regarding biological or chemical evolution in connection |
| 46 | with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or |
| 47 | biological origins. |
| 48 | (5) A public school student in the state's K-12 school |
| 49 | system may be evaluated based upon his or her understanding of |
| 50 | course materials, but may not be penalized in any way because he |
| 51 | or she subscribes to a particular position or view regarding |
| 52 | biological or chemical evolution. |
| 53 | (6) The rights and privileges contained in this section |
| 54 | apply when the subject of biological or chemical origins is part |
| 55 | of the curriculum. The provisions of this section do not require |
| 56 | or encourage any change in the state curriculum standards for |
| 57 | the K-12 public school system. |
| 58 | (7) This section shall not be construed to promote any |
| 59 | religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a |
| 60 | particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination |
| 61 | for or against religion or nonreligion. |
| 62 | Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2008. |