{"id":2993,"date":"2017-12-08T16:36:47","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T21:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/?p=2993"},"modified":"2017-12-08T16:36:47","modified_gmt":"2017-12-08T21:36:47","slug":"antiscience-bills-update-12817","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2993","title":{"rendered":"Antiscience Bills Update 12\/8\/17"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s a quick update on the bills we’re watching in the Florida legislature. The legislative session doesn’t actually kick off until Jan. 8 but bills can be pre-filed in preparation for the session and those bills can be assigned to committees and possibly even heard and voted on during committee meetings before the session. With that in mind, here’s what’s happening:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>House Bill 827: Instructional Materials<\/h3>\n

Link to bill here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“A controversial new state law that makes it easier for Florida residents to challenge books used in public schools could get overhauled next year so those who dislike certain texts could also suggest replacements they find more appropriate.” (Orlando Sentinel, 12\/1\/17<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Today (Dec. 8) the bill was referred to three committees:\u00c2\u00a0PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee, PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, and Education Committee. It looks like the\u00c2\u00a0PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee<\/a> will be the first to consider the bill but it has not been scheduled for a meeting yet. It should be noted that the person who filed this bill, Rep. Byron Donalds, is on this committee.<\/p>\n

At this time, this bill has no counterpart in the Senate.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Senate Bill 966: Educational Standards for K-12 Public Schools<\/h3>\n

Link to bill here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Florida’s Senate Bill 966, prefiled on November 17, 2017, would, if enacted, require “[c]ontroversial theories and concepts … [to] be taught in a factual, objective, and balanced manner,” while allowing local school districts to use either the state science standards or alternatives “equivalent to or more rigorous than” them. Although there is no indication in the bill about which “theories and concepts” are deemed to be “controversial,” much less any guidance about adjudicating disputes about which are and which are not, it is suggestive that the bill’s sole sponsor, Dennis Baxley (R-District 12), has a history of antievolution advocacy. (NCSE, 11\/20\/17<\/a>)<\/p>\n

On Dec. 4, the bill was referred to three committees:\u00c2\u00a0Education, Appropriations, and Rules. It should be noted that the bill sponsor, Sen. Dennis Baxley, is on the Appropriation committee.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>House Bill 825: Educational Standards For K-12 Public Schools<\/h3>\n

Link to bill here<\/a>. This is the companion bill to SB 966.<\/p>\n

Florida’s House Bill 825, prefiled on November 28, 2017, would, if enacted, require “[c]ontroversial theories and concepts … [to] be taught in a factual, objective, and balanced manner,” while allowing local school districts to use either the state science standards or alternatives “equivalent to or more rigorous than” them. (NCSE, 11\/29\/17<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Today (Dec. 8) the bill was referred to three committees:\u00c2\u00a0PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee, PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, and Education Committee.\u00c2\u00a0It looks like the\u00c2\u00a0PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee<\/a> will be the first to consider the bill but it has not been scheduled for a meeting yet.<\/p>\n

You need to be active now!<\/h3>\n

As you can see, these bills are live and on the move. The time to contact your local legislators is now, not later. Try to meet with them in person, especially if they’re serving on any of the committees these bills will be in front of. We can’t stop these bills without YOU!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s a quick update on the bills we’re watching in the Florida legislature. The legislative session doesn’t actually kick off until Jan. 8 but bills can be pre-filed in preparation for the session and those bills can be assigned to … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcZNLl-Mh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3240,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3240","url_meta":{"origin":2993,"position":0},"title":"Final 2018 legislative update","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"March 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"We were deeply worried when the 2018 Florida legislative session kicked off because several bills had been filed that would have directly and negatively impacted science education. A pair of Controversial Theories bills (otherwise known as Academic Freedom bills) would have required in district-adopted science standards that: \"Controversial theories and\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3240#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Old_and_New_Florida_State_Capitol_Tallahassee_East_view_20160711_1-212x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3395,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3395","url_meta":{"origin":2993,"position":1},"title":"“Controversial Theories” bill returns to Florida senate","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"January 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A bill was pre-filed for the 2019 legislative session in the Florida senate that would impact the standards for all academic subjects, especially science. The bill proposes allowing school districts to adopt their own sets of educational standards if they are equal to or more rigorous than the state's educational\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Controversial Theories bill 2019"","block_context":{"text":"Controversial Theories bill 2019","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=36"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3444,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3444","url_meta":{"origin":2993,"position":2},"title":"Getting ready for another wild ride in Tallahassee","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"March 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The state legislative session kicks off Tuesday. We here at Florida Citizens for Science are as busy as can be as we monitor several bad bills filed in the legislature that can negatively impact science education. Additionally, the review of all academic standards directed by Gov. Ron DeSantis has a\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3453,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3453","url_meta":{"origin":2993,"position":3},"title":"News & Updates 3\/17\/19","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"March 17, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"We're monitoring several bills in our state legislature that could negatively impact science education. The good news is that so far there has been very little movement. One has been scheduled for a committee hearing and others have gotten some press. But the session is still quite young and we\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3478,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3478","url_meta":{"origin":2993,"position":4},"title":"Florida Legislative Session Wrap Up 2019","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"May 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"May the Fourth Be With You! Today, the 2019 session of the Florida Legislature is finally over. Here's a quick summary of the issues we here at Florida Citizens for Science were tracking. Senate Bill 330: Educational Standards for K-12 Public Schools This bill would have impacted the standards for\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/sciencetextbookswarming.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/sciencetextbookswarming.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/sciencetextbookswarming.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3409,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3409","url_meta":{"origin":2993,"position":5},"title":"Update 1: “Controversial Theories” bill targeting evolution\/climate change referred to committees","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"January 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A bill filed in the Florida senate that could significantly impact science education if it becomes law is now referred to four committees. 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