Bill > AB347

This bill amends California's education code to strengthen and clarify the rights of students who object to animal dissection in school courses. Starting July 1, 2026, the bill requires teachers to provide alternative assignments or assessments for students who choose not to participate in animal dissection activities, ensuring these alternatives are comparable in time and effort and not more difficult than the original assignment. The bill prohibits schools from penalizing students by lowering their grades for exercising this right and mandates that teachers provide, upon student request, information about the sourcing and preservation of animals used in dissection. Each teacher or school must provide written notice to students and parents about these rights, and the State Department of Education is required to develop a template for this notification by the start of the 2026-27 school year. The bill applies to all public schools offering courses that use animals for dissection, including traditional public schools, charter schools, and state special schools, and encourages schools to explore alternative methods to animal dissection by July 1, 2028. Additionally, the bill updates the Uniform Complaint Procedures to include students' rights regarding animal dissection, ensuring a mechanism for addressing potential violations.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB347