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MO HB486
Bill
Status
1/13/2015
Primary Sponsor
Andrew Koenig
Click for details
AI Summary
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Adds section 170.335 to Missouri law requiring public school authorities to create environments encouraging students to explore scientific questions, develop critical thinking skills, and respond to differences of opinion about "controversial issues" including biological and chemical evolution
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Permits teachers to help students "understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses" of biological evolution theory and chemical evolution hypotheses
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Prohibits school boards, superintendents, principals, and administrators from preventing teachers from teaching alleged strengths and weaknesses of evolution
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Includes disclaimer stating the section shall not be construed to promote religious doctrine or discrimination based on theistic or nontheistic beliefs; defines "scientific information" as physical evidence and logical inferences based on evidence
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Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to notify all public school superintendents of these provisions by the 2016-17 school year, who must then distribute copies to all employees
Legislative Description
Requires the State Board of Education and other public school entities to encourage students to explore scientific questions and to assist teaching of scientific theories of biological or chemical evolution
Last Action
Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education(H)
5/15/2015