Florida Senate - 2008 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 2692
653262
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.