NV LGBT History Education Law (2021)

NV LGBT History Education Law (2021)

Assembly Bill No. 261–Assemblywomen Anderson, Brittney Miller and Considine
Joint Sponsor: Senator D. Harris

AN ACT relating to education; requiring the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school to ensure that instruction is provided to certain pupils on the history and contributions of certain groups of persons; revising provisions relating to the selection of instructional materials by the State Board of Education; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Chapter 389 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to read as follows:

1. The board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school shall ensure that instruction is provided to pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 in each public school within the school district or in the charter school, as applicable, on the history and contributions to science, the arts and humanities of:
(a) Native Americans and Native American tribes;
(b) Persons of marginalized sexual orientation or gender identity;
(c) Persons with disabilities;
(d) Persons from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, including, without limitation, persons who are African-American, Basque, Hispanic or Asian or Pacific Islander;
(e) Persons from various socioeconomic statuses;
(f) Immigrants or refugees;
(g) Persons from various religious backgrounds; and
(h) Any other group of persons the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school deems appropriate.


2. The standards of content and performance for the instruction required by subsection 1 must be included in the standards of content and performance established by the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools pursuant to NRS 389.520. The instruction required by subsection 1 must be:
(a) Age-appropriate; and
(b) Included within one or more courses of study for which the Council has established the relevant standards of content and performance.

Sec. 2. NRS 389.850 is hereby amended to read as follows:

389.850 1. The State Board shall make the final selection of all textbooks to be used in the public schools in this State, except for charter schools. If a textbook proposed for selection is in a subject area for which standards of content have been established by the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools pursuant to NRS 389.520, the State Board shall not select the textbook unless the State Board determines that the textbook adequately supports the standards for that subject area.

2. A textbook must not be selected by the State Board pursuant to subsection 1 for use in the public schools in classes in literature, history or social sciences unless it accurately portrays the cultural and racial diversity of our society, including lessons on the contributions made to our society by men and women from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

3. Instructional materials, including, without limitation, a textbook, must not be selected by the State Board pursuant to subsection 1 for use in the public schools unless the State Board determines that the instructional materials accurately portray the history and contributions to science, the arts and humanities of the groups of persons described in section 1 of this act.

Sec. 3. The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any additional expenses of a local government that are related to the provisions of this act.

Sec. 4. 1. This section becomes effective upon passage and approval.

2. Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this act become effective:
(a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of performing any preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and
(b) On July 1, 2022, for all other purposes.