Bill Text: MI HB6520 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Education: curriculum; instruction in climate change; require. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1164a.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-12-17 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 12/17/2020 [HB6520 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HB6520-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 6520
December 16, 2020, Introduced by Reps. Hood,
Stone, Brixie and Gay-Dagnogo and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1164a.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1164a. (1) The commission on climate education in K to 12
instruction is created within the department. The department shall provide
staffing and support for the commission.
(2) By not later
than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this
section, the members of the commission must be appointed as prescribed under
this subsection. The commission must consist of the following 12 members:
(a) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of the University of Michigan
and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental
sciences, or sustainable technology.
(b) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of Michigan State University
and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental
sciences, or sustainable technology.
(c) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of Wayne State University and
who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental
sciences, or sustainable technology.
(d) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of Grand Valley State
University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology,
environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.
(e) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of Western Michigan
University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology,
environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.
(f) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of Northern Michigan
University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology,
environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.
(g) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of Central Michigan
University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology,
environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.
(h) One member
appointed by the governor who is a representative of the Michigan Technological
University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology,
environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.
(i) One member
who is a high school social studies or science teacher appointed by the
governor.
(j) One member
who is a middle school social studies or science teacher appointed by the
governor.
(k) One member
who is an expert in climate change appointed by the superintendent of public
instruction or his or her designee.
(l) One member who
is an expert in climate change appointed by the director of the department of
environment, Great Lakes, and energy or his or her designee.
(3) Not later
than 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this
section, the superintendent of public instruction shall call the first meeting
of the commission. At the first meeting, the commission shall elect from among
its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers necessary or
appropriate. After the first meeting, the commission shall meet at times and
places specified by the chairperson or a majority of its members.
(4) A majority of
the members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at a meeting of the commission. A majority of the members present and
serving are required for official action of the commission.
(5) The business
that the commission may perform must be conducted at a public meeting of the
commission held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL
15.261 to 15.275.
(6) A writing
prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the commission in
the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of
information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(7) Members of
the commission serve without compensation and must not be reimbursed for their
expenses.
(8) Not later
than 365 days after the first meeting of the commission, the commission shall
review the current recommended model core academic curriculum content standards
developed under section 1278 and provide the state board and the standing
committees of the legislature responsible for K to 12 education legislation a
recommendation on age- and grade-appropriate instruction for all grade levels
on climate education. The commission shall consider the inclusion of the
following within the recommended instruction:
(a) A comparative
analysis of the use of fossil fuel versus clean energy.
(b) An introduction
to energy governance in this state and energy production and its impact on public
health.
(c) An introduction
to environmental justice, this state's agricultural economy, and climate change
impacts.
(d) A comparative
analysis of climate change impacts in urban and rural communities.
(e) Information
concerning freshwater ecosystems and climate change.
(f) Information
concerning water infrastructure and climate change.
(g) Information
concerning local and global climate change solutions.
(9) After the
commission provides to the state board the recommended instruction under
subsection (8), not later than 2 school years following the date on which the
state board receives the recommended instruction under subsection (8), the
state board shall update the recommended model core academic curriculum content
standards developed under section 1278 so that the standards incorporate the
recommended instruction under subsection (8).
(10) After the
commission provides to the state board the recommended instruction under
subsection (8), in addition to the requirements of section 1279g, beginning
with assessments conducted during the 2025-2026 school year, the superintendent
of public instruction shall ensure that the Michigan merit examination science
component and the M-STEP and any successor state assessment for science, as
appropriate, include questions related to the learning objectives in the state
board recommended model core academic curriculum content standards concerning
climate change.
(11) Beginning
with the 2025-2026 school year, the board of a school district or board of
directors of a public school academy shall ensure that each school it operates
provides instruction to pupils at all grade levels operated by that school
regarding climate change as recommended under subsection (8).
(12) The commission
created under subsection (1) shall take no further action 2 years after the
effective date of the amendatory act that added this section and is dissolved 2
years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section.
(13) As used in this section, "commission" means the commission on climate education in K to 12 instruction created under subsection (1).
