After failing to allow public schools to teach “creation science,” Indiana state Sen. Dennis Kruse (R) plans to introduce a bill in the next legislative session that would allow students to question the theory of evolution.

“I would call it ‘truth in education’ to make sure that what is being taught is true,” Kruse, the chairman of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee, told Indystar. “And if a student thinks something isn’t true, then they can question the teacher and the teacher would have to come up with some kind of research to support that what they are teaching is true or not true.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tennessee legislature passed a similar bill earlier this year. The law permitted public school teachers to discuss the “scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories.” Critics said the law was intended to undermine theories like evolution by presenting them to students as if they were controversial among scientists.

The Discovery Institute, which advocates the teaching of a variation of creationism known as Intelligent Design, is reportedly helping Kruse draft his new bill.

The Indiana Senate in February passed Kruse’s legislation to allow “the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science” in public schools. However, Republican Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma killed the bill, saying it would result in a costly lawsuit if passed.