Bill Text: HI HB406 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Education; Public Schools; Controversial Issues

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [HB406 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB406-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	406
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CONTROVERSIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that parents of students have the right to be fully informed on the subjects and lessons taught to their children in public schools.  If public schools are teaching materials and courses that some parents find incompatible with their own values, the schools should be as transparent about its teachings as possible.

     The purpose of this Act is to promote transparency and accountability by requiring public schools to disclose all controversial instructional materials to parents before those materials are taught to students in their classrooms.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-   Education on controversial issues.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a public school shall provide written notice to the parents or legal guardians of a student no less than seven days before providing the student with instructions or instructional materials that are controversial in nature.  A student shall not receive the instructions or instructional materials if a parent or legal guardian submits a written objection to the public school.

     (b)  This section shall not be construed to prohibit the board, the department, or a public school from implementing or complying with policies that require affirmative consent from a parent or legal guardian before the school provides the controversial instruction or instructional materials to a student.

     (c)  For purposes of this section:

     "Controversial" means likely to provoke strong disagreement among reasonable people.

     "Instruction" includes curriculum, classes, supplementary lectures and classes, and educational activities.

     "Instructional materials" includes textbooks, curriculum pamphlets, supplementary materials, electronic data, and audiovisual media relating to the instruction of an issue.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Education; Public Schools; Controversial Issues

 

Description:

Requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians written advance notice of the instruction or provision of materials or activities that address controversial issues.

                                     

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.