HOUSE BILL NO. 6520

December 16, 2020, Introduced by Reps. Hood, Stone, Brixie and Gay-Dagnogo and referred to the Committee on Education.

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1164a.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1164a. (1) The commission on climate education in K to 12 instruction is created within the department. The department shall provide staffing and support for the commission.

(2) By not later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the members of the commission must be appointed as prescribed under this subsection. The commission must consist of the following 12 members:

(a) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of the University of Michigan and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(b) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of Michigan State University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(c) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of Wayne State University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(d) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of Grand Valley State University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(e) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of Western Michigan University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(f) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of Northern Michigan University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(g) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of Central Michigan University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(h) One member appointed by the governor who is a representative of the Michigan Technological University and who is an expert who specializes in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

(i) One member who is a high school social studies or science teacher appointed by the governor.

(j) One member who is a middle school social studies or science teacher appointed by the governor.

(k) One member who is an expert in climate change appointed by the superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee.

(l) One member who is an expert in climate change appointed by the director of the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy or his or her designee.

(3) Not later than 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall call the first meeting of the commission. At the first meeting, the commission shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the commission shall meet at times and places specified by the chairperson or a majority of its members.

(4) A majority of the members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the commission. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the commission.

(5) The business that the commission may perform must be conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(6) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the commission in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(7) Members of the commission serve without compensation and must not be reimbursed for their expenses.

(8) Not later than 365 days after the first meeting of the commission, the commission shall review the current recommended model core academic curriculum content standards developed under section 1278 and provide the state board and the standing committees of the legislature responsible for K to 12 education legislation a recommendation on age- and grade-appropriate instruction for all grade levels on climate education. The commission shall consider the inclusion of the following within the recommended instruction:

(a) A comparative analysis of the use of fossil fuel versus clean energy.

(b) An introduction to energy governance in this state and energy production and its impact on public health.

(c) An introduction to environmental justice, this state's agricultural economy, and climate change impacts.

(d) A comparative analysis of climate change impacts in urban and rural communities.

(e) Information concerning freshwater ecosystems and climate change.

(f) Information concerning water infrastructure and climate change.

(g) Information concerning local and global climate change solutions.

(9) After the commission provides to the state board the recommended instruction under subsection (8), not later than 2 school years following the date on which the state board receives the recommended instruction under subsection (8), the state board shall update the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards developed under section 1278 so that the standards incorporate the recommended instruction under subsection (8).

(10) After the commission provides to the state board the recommended instruction under subsection (8), in addition to the requirements of section 1279g, beginning with assessments conducted during the 2025-2026 school year, the superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that the Michigan merit examination science component and the M-STEP and any successor state assessment for science, as appropriate, include questions related to the learning objectives in the state board recommended model core academic curriculum content standards concerning climate change.

(11) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall ensure that each school it operates provides instruction to pupils at all grade levels operated by that school regarding climate change as recommended under subsection (8).

(12) The commission created under subsection (1) shall take no further action 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section and is dissolved 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section.

(13) As used in this section, "commission" means the commission on climate education in K to 12 instruction created under subsection (1).