Regular Session, 2008

SENATE BILL NO. 733(Substitute of Senate Bill No. 561 by Senator Nevers)

AN ACT

1To enact R.S. 17:285.1, relative to curriculum and instruction; to provide relative to the
2teaching of scientific subjects in public elementary and secondary schools; to
3promote students' critical thinking skills and open discussion of scientific theories;
4to provide relative to support and guidance for teachers; to provide relative to
5textbooksandinstructionalmaterials;to provide for rules and regulations;to provide
6for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 17:285.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9§285.1. Science education; development of critical thinking skills
10A. This Section shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana
11Science Education Act."
12B.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, upon
13request of a city, parish, or other local public school board, shall allow and
14assist teachers, principals, and other school administrators to create and foster
15an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that promotes
16critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of
17scientific theories being studied including, but not limited to, evolution, the
1origins of life, global warming, and human cloning.
2(2) Such assistance shall include support and guidance for teachers
3regarding effective ways to help students understand, analyze, critique, and
4objectively review scientific theories being studied,including those enumerated
5in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.
6C. A teacher shall teach the material presented in the standard textbook
7supplied by the school system and thereafter may use supplemental textbooks
8and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique,
9and review scientific theories in an objective manner, as permitted by the city,
10parish, or other local public school board.
11D. This Sectionshallnotbeconstrued to promoteany religious doctrine,
12promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or
13promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.
14E. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and each
15city, parish, or other local public school board shall adopt and promulgate the
16rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Section prior
17to the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year.
18Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
19signed by the governor,upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
20by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
21vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
22effective on the day following such approval.
23The original instrument was prepared by Jeanne Johnston. The following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Linda Nugent.

Nevers (SB 733)

Provides that proposed law shall be known as the "Louisiana Science Education Act."

Proposed law requires BESE, upon request of a local school board, to allow and assistteachers, principals, and other school administrators to create and foster an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that promotes critical thinking skills,logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories being studied including evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning.Provides that such assistance shall include support and guidance for teachers regardingeffective ways to help students understand, analyze, critique, and objectively review such scientific theories being studied.Provides that a teacher shall teach material presented in the standard textbook supplied by the school system and thereafter may use textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand,analyze, critique, and reviewscientifictheories in an objective manner,as permitted by the local school board.

Provides that proposed law shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine,promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.Requires BESE and local school boards to promulgate rules and regulations necessary toimplement this Act prior to the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year.Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.(Adds R.S. 17:285.1)