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90_SB0271
New Act
105 ILCS 5/2-3.120 new
105 ILCS 5/27-14 from Ch. 122, par. 27-14
Creates the Dissection Alternatives Act and amends the
School Code. Provides that a public or nonpublic elementary,
secondary, or undergraduate student who objects to performing
or observing dissection has the right to perform an
alternative project instead, and may not be penalized for
making that choice. Also provides that teachers of
elementary, secondary, and undergraduate students may not be
compelled to include dissection in their courses. Requires
notice to students and to the parents of elementary and
secondary students. Directs the State Board of Education to
adopt guidelines and supervise the implementation of the Act.
First applies to the 1997-1998 academic year. Effective
immediately.
LRB9000348EGfg
LRB9000348EGfg
1 AN ACT in relation to alternatives to dissection.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Dissection Alternatives Act.
6 Section 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
7 "Student" means (i) a pupil at a public or private
8 elementary or secondary school in Illinois, (ii) a student at
9 an Illinois community college, or (iii) an undergraduate
10 student at a public or private college or university in
11 Illinois.
12 "Teacher" means a person who is teaching (i) at a public
13 or private elementary or secondary school in Illinois, (ii)
14 at an Illinois community college, or (iii) undergraduate
15 students at a public or private college or university in
16 Illinois; regardless of whether that teaching is on a
17 full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent, or regular or
18 substitute basis.
19 "Dissection" includes cutting, killing, inspecting,
20 touching, handling, preserving, mounting, or other
21 manipulation of living or dead animals or animal parts for
22 scientific study; but does not include the cutting,
23 inspecting, touching, handling, preserving, mounting, or
24 other manipulation of (1) meat or other animal products that
25 have been processed for use as food or in the preparation of
26 food or (2) wool, silk, glue, or other commercial or artistic
27 products derived from animals.
28 Section 10. Student rights; alternative projects.
29 (a) A student shall not be required to perform,
30 participate in, or observe dissection. A student shall not
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1 be penalized or discriminated against in any way for refusing
2 to perform, participate in, or observe dissection.
3 (b) A student enrolled in a course in which students are
4 ordinarily expected to perform, participate in, or observe
5 dissection who objects for any reason to performing,
6 participating in, or observing that dissection shall be
7 excused from the dissection and required to complete an
8 alternative project instead. The alternative project shall
9 be nonpunative and shall be reasonably chosen to provide the
10 student, through means other than dissection, with knowledge
11 similar to that expected to be gained by other students in
12 the course who perform, participate in, or observe the
13 dissection. In the case of a student in a public elementary
14 or secondary school, the alternative project shall be
15 consistent with the guidelines for alternative projects
16 adopted by the State Board of Education.
17 Section 15. Notification of students and parents.
18 (a) At or before the beginning of any course in which
19 post-secondary students are expected or allowed to perform,
20 participate in, or observe dissection, the students shall be
21 informed of that fact and of their right to be excused from
22 the dissection and instead complete an alternative project.
23 They shall also be informed of their right not to be
24 penalized or discriminated against because of their choice in
25 this matter.
26 (b) At or before the beginning of any course in which
27 elementary or secondary students are expected or allowed to
28 perform, participate in, or observe dissection, and again
29 before or during the class meeting in which the actual
30 dissection is to occur or be observed, the students shall be
31 informed of that fact and of their right to be excused from
32 the dissection and instead complete an alternative project.
33 They shall also be informed of their right not to be
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1 penalized or discriminated against because of their choice in
2 this matter. The form and substance of the information shall
3 be consistent with the guidelines adopted by the State Board
4 of Education.
5 (c) At or before the beginning of the academic year, the
6 school board of each school district operating a public
7 elementary or secondary school in this State shall notify the
8 parent or legal guardian of each of its students of all of
9 the following:
10 (1) which, if any, of the courses taught at the
11 student's school ordinarily require or allow the student
12 to perform, participate in, or observe dissection;
13 (2) the student's right to be excused from the
14 dissection and instead complete an alternative project;
15 and
16 (3) the student's right not to be penalized or
17 discriminated against for choosing to complete an
18 alternative project rather than perform, participate in,
19 or observe dissection.
20 The notification provided under this subsection shall be
21 consistent with the guidelines adopted by the State Board of
22 Education.
23 Section 20. Teacher rights. A teacher shall not be
24 required to perform, participate in, or observe dissection
25 and shall not be required to incorporate dissection into any
26 course taught or learning materials prepared or presented by
27 the teacher. A teacher shall not be penalized or
28 discriminated against in any way for refusing to perform,
29 participate in, or observe dissection or for refusing to
30 incorporate dissection into any course taught or learning
31 materials prepared or presented by the teacher.
32 Section 25. Implementation. The State Board of
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1 Education shall supervise the implementation of this Act in
2 the public elementary and secondary schools of this State and
3 shall monitor and assist the implementation of this Act in
4 the nonpublic elementary and secondary schools of this State.
5 In the course of these duties, the State Board may require
6 periodic reports or assessments from any school, school
7 district, or school official.
8 Section 90. The School Code is amended by adding Section
9 2-3.120 and changing Section 27-14 as follows:
10 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.120 new)
11 Sec. 2-3.120. Dissection alternatives.
12 (a) The State Board of Education has the powers and
13 duties granted to it under the Dissection Alternatives Act.
14 (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt guidelines
15 for the implementation of the Dissection Alternatives Act in
16 the public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools of
17 this State. The guidelines shall include (1) recommendations
18 for the form and substance of the notifications of students
19 and parents required under that Act, (2) recommendations for
20 the alternative projects to be provided under that Act, (3)
21 recommendations for obtaining additional information about
22 dissection alternatives, and (4) any other guidelines
23 relating to the implementation of the Dissection Alternatives
24 Act that the State Board deems appropriate.
25 (105 ILCS 5/27-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-14)
26 Sec. 27-14. Experiments upon animals.
27 (a) No experiment upon any living animal for the purpose
28 of demonstration in any study shall be made in any public
29 school. No animal provided by, or killed in the presence of,
30 any pupil of a public school shall be used for dissection in
31 such school, and in no case shall dogs or cats be killed for
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1 such purposes.
2 (b) Dissection of dead animals, or parts thereof, shall
3 be confined to the classroom and shall not be practiced in
4 the presence of any pupil not engaged in the study to be
5 illustrated thereby.
6 (c) Any student who objects to performing, participating
7 in, or observing dissection, as defined in the Dissection
8 Alternatives Act, is entitled to be excused from those
9 activities and instead participate in an alternative project
10 as provided in the Dissection Alternatives Act. School
11 counselors or other appropriate teachers or administrators
12 shall be available to consult with and advise students and
13 parents on matters relating to dissection and the Dissection
14 Alternatives Act.
15 (Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
16 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17 becoming law and first applies to the 1997-1998 academic
18 year.