January 23, 2002

New Anti-Evolution Legislation Introduced

On January 18, 2002 a new anti-evolution bill was introduced in the Washington State Senate and referred to the Education Committee. According to the bill's digest, SB 6500: "Finds that the teaching of the theory of evolution in the common schools of the state of Washington is repugnant to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and thereby unconstitutional and unlawful. Provides that all textbooks and curriculum that teach the theory of evolution shall be removed from the public schools forthwith and replaced with textbooks and curriculum that teach the self-evident truth of creation."

The sponsor of this bill also introduced SB 6058, calling for an Alabama-style evolution disclaimer in textbooks, in 2001. That bill has not yet been taken up by the Education Committee, as of this date.

On January 23, 2002 a "companion bill" to SB 6500 was introduced in the Washington House of Representatives and referred to its Education Committee. HB 2681 contains the same provisions as SB 6500. For information about HB 2681, see

http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?year=2001&bill=2681