Representative James A. Ferrin proposes the following substitute bill:
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PUBLIC EDUCATION - INSTRUCTION AND
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POLICY RELATING TO THE
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ORIGINS OF SPECIES
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2006 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Chief Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars
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House Sponsor:
James A. Ferrin
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill amends the chapter relating to Curriculum in the Public Schools to require the
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State Board of Education to establish certain curriculum requirements and policies
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relating to instruction on the origins of species.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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. states the intent of the Legislature relating to this bill;
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. requires the State Board of Education to establish curriculum requirements and
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policies that:
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. stress
that a scientific theory, hypothesis, or inference regarding the
origins of
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species is not an empirically proven fact; and
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. do
not endorse as fact any one theory, hypothesis, or inference regarding
the
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origins of species; and
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. grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.
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Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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ENACTS:
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53A-13-101.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1.
Section
53A-13-101.7
is enacted to read:
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53A-13-101.7. Curriculum and policy on instruction relating to the origins of
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species.
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(1) In order to encourage students to critically analyze scientific instruction regarding
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the origins of species, to consider differing scientific viewpoints, and to form their own
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opinions, the Legislature desires to avoid the perception that any scientific theory, hypothesis,
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or inference regarding the origins of species has been empirically proven, or that the state
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endorses as fact any one theory, hypothesis, or inference.
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(2) The State Board of Education shall establish curriculum requirements, consistent
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with Subsection (1), relating to scientific instruction of students on the origins of species.
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(3) The curriculum requirements described in Subsection (2) shall require that if
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scientific instruction is given to students regarding the origins of species, then that instruction
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shall stress that a scientific theory, hypothesis, or inference regarding the origins of species is
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not an empirically proven fact.
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(4) The State Board of Education shall:
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(a) make rules, pursuant to Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
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Act, to fulfill the requirements of this section; and
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(b) ensure that all policies and positions of the State Board of Education relating to
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scientific instruction regarding the origins of species:
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(i) do not endorse as fact any particular theory, hypothesis, or inference; and
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(ii) stress that a scientific theory, hypothesis, or inference regarding the origins of
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species is not an empirically proven fact.