The “Origins of Life” Bill introduced by Rep. Chris Buttars failed to survive in the Utah House.
The bill would have required the State Board of Education to establish curriculum requirements stressing that the scientific theory about the origin of species and evolution is not empirically proven.
“Nobody can empirically prove or disprove the theory, and the bill makes a very clear statement as to how I believe we ought to instruct students,” said Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, the bill’s House sponsor.
But legislators in the House said they were concerned about singling out the theory of evolution and stepping on what could be the State Board of Education’s turf.
House Majority Whip Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, amended the bill deleting all language save two lines that reinforced the state board’s role in establishing scientific instruction.
The amended bill failed on a 28-46 vote, and there were no indications that it would be revived.
Chris Buttars’ comments:
“There are a number of influential legislators who believe you evolved from an ape,” Buttars said following the vote. “I didn’t.”
Republican Rep. LaVar Christensen, stated that SB96 was a “nod toward the almighty.”
This bill is a small gesture but one that leaves the door open for people to affirm what is in their own constitution, referring to the preamble of the Utah Constitution, which includes the phrase: “Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty.”
Opponents to the bill questioned why the state would single out one theory when the scientific community disagrees on dozens of others.
“Aren’t we in a reverse way endorsing all other theories, because this is the only one we are saying ‘be careful with this one?’ ” asked Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan.
Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, led the charge to defeat the bill, saying he didn’t understand how science contradicted faith.
“I did not talk about faith, but it has been talked about several times and it’s obvious that’s why we singled out one theory,” he said.
Urquhart successfully gutted the bill, leaving only one bland sentence that read: “The State Board of Education shall establish curriculum requirements relating to scientific instruction.”
The news of the dead evolution bill nationwide reached:
Houston Chronicle
New York Times
The Mercury News (San Jose)
WTVM in Columbus, GA
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 