1| STATE OF OKLAHOMA | | | 2| 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) | | | 3|SENATE BILL 140 By: Dahm | | | 4| | | | 5| | | | 6| AS INTRODUCED | | | 7| An Act relating to school curriculum; creating the | | Oklahoma Science Education Act; providing short | 8| title; providing for the creation of a school | | environment that encourages the exploration of | 9| scientific theories; allowing teachers to help | | students analyze certain scientific strengths and | 10| weaknesses; prohibiting the promotion of religious or | | non-religious beliefs; providing for certain | 11| notification; providing for certain immunity; | | providing for codification; providing an effective | 12| date; and declaring an emergency. | | | 13| | | | 14| | | | 15|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: | | | 16| SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 17|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 11-103.15 of Title 70, unless | | | 18|there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 19| A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma | | | 20|Science Education Act". | | | 21| B. The State Board of Education, school district boards of | | | 22|education, school district superintendents, and school principals | | | 23|shall endeavor to create an environment within public school | | | 24|districts that encourages students to explore scientific questions, | | | Req. No. 832 Page 1 ___________________________________________________________________________
1|learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, | | | 2|and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion | | | 3|about controversial issues. | | | 4| C. The State Board of Education, school district boards of | | | 5|education, school district superintendents, and school principals | | | 6|shall endeavor to assist teachers to find effective ways to present | | | 7|the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies. | | | 8|Teachers shall be permitted to help students understand, analyze, | | | 9|critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths | | | 10|and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in | | | 11|the course being taught using evidence-based, peer-reviewed | | | 12|material. | | | 13| D. Neither the State Board of Education, nor any school | | | 14|district board of education, school district superintendent, or | | | 15|school principal shall prohibit any teacher in a public school | | | 16|district in this state from helping students understand, analyze, | | | 17|critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths | | | 18|and weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course | | | 19|being taught using evidence-based, peer-reviewed material. | | | 20| E. The provisions of this section shall only protect the | | | 21|teaching of scientific information and shall not be construed to | | | 22|promote any religious or non-religious doctrine, promote | | | 23|discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 832 Page 2 ___________________________________________________________________________
1|or non-beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or | | | 2|non-religion. | | | 3| F. By no later than the start of the 2023-2024 school year, the | | | 4|State Department of Education shall notify school district boards of | | | 5|education and school district superintendents of public schools in | | | 6|this state of the provisions of this act. Each school district | | | 7|board of education and school district superintendent shall notify | | | 8|all employees within the school district of the provisions of this | | | 9|act. | | | 10| G. A teacher as defined by Section 1-116 of Title 70 of the | | | 11|Oklahoma Statutes who complies with the provisions of this act shall | | | 12|be granted immunity from civil liability or termination of | | | 13|employment for acts described in subsection C of this section. | | | 14| SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. | | | 15| SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation | | | 16|of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby | | | 17|declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and | | | 18|be in full force from and after its passage and approval. | | | 19| | | | 20| 59-1-832 EB 1/4/2023 5:53:05 PM | | | 21| | | | 22| | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 832 Page 3