House Bill 4705 was introduced in the legislature in May 2001, and referred to the Education Committee. As with HB 4382, four Education Committee members are co-sponsors of this bill. As of this writing, the bill has not been heard in committee.
The complete text of HB 4705 reads: "SEC. 1164. (1) THE TEACHING IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASS OF THE METHODOLOGICAL NATURALISM HYPOTHESIS AS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE ORIGIN AND DIVERSITY OF LIFE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE ALSO TEACHING THE DESIGN HYPOTHESIS AS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE ORIGIN AND DIVERSITY OF LIFE. A PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIAL SHALL NOT CENSOR OR PROHIBIT THE TEACHING OF THE DESIGN HYPOTHESIS. (2) AS USED IN THIS SECTION: (A) "DESIGN HYPOTHESIS" MEANS THE THEORY THAT LIFE AND ITS DIVERSITY RESULT FROM A COMBINATION OF CHANCE, NECESSITY, AND DESIGN. (B) "METHODOLOGICAL NATURALISM HYPOTHESIS" MEANS THE THEORY THAT NATURE IS ALL THERE IS AND THAT ALL PHENOMENA, INCLUDING LIVING SYSTEMS, RESULT ONLY FROM CHANCE AND NECESSITY."
May 7, 2001