HB 592 Summary

• Requires the State Board of Education, local boards of education, and K-12 public school staff to create an environment encouraging students to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respectfully address differences of opinion on scientific subjects.

• Prohibits the State Board of Education and local boards of education from preventing teachers from helping students understand, analyze, critique, and review the scientific strengths and weaknesses of all existing scientific theories covered in science courses in an objective manner.

• Identifies biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, and human cloning as examples of scientific subjects that may cause debate and disputation requiring effective presentation methods.

• Explicitly states the law protects only the teaching of scientific information and shall not be construed to promote religious doctrine, discriminate based on religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against a religion.

• Requires the State Department of Education to notify all K-12 superintendents of the bill's provisions by the start of the 2015-2016 school year, with each superintendent notifying their school system employees.