Bill Text: TX HB1485 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 1485 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to academic freedom for public school teachers providing science instruction.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-02 - Left pending in committee [HB1485 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1485-Introduced.html

	85R8796 KKA-F

	By: Swanson	H.B. No. 1485



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to academic freedom for public school teachers providing
	science instruction.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that:
	(1) an important purpose of science education is to
	inform students about scientific evidence and help students develop
	critical thinking skills necessary to become intelligent,
	productive, and scientifically informed citizens;
	(2) the teaching of some scientific subjects required
	to be taught under the curriculum framework developed by the State
	Board of Education may cause controversy, including climate change,
	biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, and human
	cloning;
	(3) some teachers may be unsure of expectations
	concerning how to present information when controversy arises
	concerning a scientific subject; and
	(4) the protection of a teacher's academic freedom is
	necessary to enable the teacher to provide effective instruction
	that serves the purpose stated in Subdivision (1) of this section.
	SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 28.0162 to read as follows:
	Sec. 28.0162. ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR TEACHERS. (a) The State
	Board of Education, school district boards of trustees, and school
	district administrators, including school principals, shall
	endeavor to:
	(1) create an environment within public elementary and
	secondary schools that encourages students to:
	(A) explore scientific questions;
	(B) learn about scientific evidence;
	(C) develop critical thinking skills; and
	(D) respond appropriately and respectfully to
	differences of opinion about scientific subjects required to be
	taught under the curriculum framework developed by the State Board
	of Education; and
	(2) assist teachers in finding effective ways to
	present scientific subjects required to be taught under the
	curriculum framework developed by the State Board of Education that
	may cause controversy.
	(b) The State Board of Education, a school district board of
	trustees, or a school district administrator, including a school
	principal, may not prohibit a teacher from helping students
	understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner
	the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific
	theories included in a course taught in accordance with the
	curriculum framework developed by the State Board of Education.
	(c) This section applies only to teaching scientific
	subjects included within the curriculum framework developed by the
	State Board of Education. This section may not be construed to
	promote:
	(1) any religious or nonreligious doctrine; or
	(2) discrimination for or against religion or
	irreligion or a particular set of religious beliefs or nonbeliefs.
	SECTION 3. (a) Not later than August 1, 2017, the Texas
	Education Agency shall notify the State Board of Education and the
	board of trustees and superintendent of each school district in
	this state of the provisions of this Act.
	(b) Not later than August 15, 2017, each superintendent
	shall notify each district administrator, including a school
	principal, and district teacher of the provisions of this Act.
	SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
	school year.
	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2017.