SB 1181 - The act provides that no school or school employee, as the term "school" is defined in the act, shall compel teachers to teach, or compel a student or teacher to personally adopt or profess, a position or viewpoint that a reasonable person would conclude violates certain public policies described in the act. Such viewpoints include, but are not limited to, the notion that individuals of any race, ethnicity, color, or national origin are inherently superior or inferior to others, or that individuals, by virtue of their race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by others. No school may require a student or employee to attend or participate in a training, instruction, or therapy that a reasonable person would believe violates this provision. This act shall not be construed to prohibit constitutionally protected speech, access to research or study materials, or the discussion or assignment of materials for educational purposes. The act shall not be construed to prevent teachers from discussing current events in a historical context or courses including, but not limited to, African American history, Native American history, women's history, Asian American History and Hispanic history.
The act additionally provides that a school shall post on its website the names of all books required for students and provide parents access to the digital library catalogue for the attendance center where the parent's student is enrolled.
Any employee of a school who discloses a violation of these provisions shall be protected from any manner of retaliation as provided by current law.
Any parent of a student enrolled in a school may bring a civil action against the school for injunctive relief or damages for any violation of the act that causes harm to their child.
Any public school teacher who violates the provisions of the act shall face charges to suspend or revoke their license to teach based upon charges of incompetence, immorality, or neglect of duty.
This act is similar to provisions in HCS/SS#2/SCS/SBs 4, 42 & 89 (2023), SB 158 (2023), HCS/HB 482 (2023), HCS/SS#2/SB 761 (2022), HCS/HB 1858 (2022), HCS/HBs 1995 & 1474 (2022), and HCS/HB 2428 (2022).
OLIVIA SHANNON