Scientific and educational organizations are again expressing their opposition to antiscience legislation in the Sooner State. As NCSE previously reported, although Oklahoma's House Bill 1551 died in committee, there is now a proposal to amend House Bill 2341 with the addition of a new section containing the very same language, encouraging teachers to present the "scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses" of "controversial" topics such as "biological evolution" and "global warming."
Statements opposing the proposed amendment to HB 2341 have been issued by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (PDF), the National Association of Biology Teachers (PDF), and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (PDF). Those organizations, as well as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (PDF), previously issued statements opposing HB 1551. The proposal to amend HB 2341 will be considered when the bill comes to a floor vote in the Senate; it is currently on the Senate calendar, but not on the Senate agenda, for April 9, 2012.