States With Dissection Choice Laws

Choice-in-dissection laws (or policies) allow students to refuse to participate in classroom exercises—particularly dissections—that are harmful to animals. These laws typically require the school to notify students and/or their parents at the beginning of a course when animal dissection is part of that course; they allow students to choose humane alternatives; and they require that students who choose to desist from dissection not be penalized for doing so.

These laws apply to kindergarten through high school. To date, no such law covers college undergraduates. In some cases, teachers may still require dissections if they believe no adequate alternatives exist.

Click on the photo to download the PDF of dissection choice states.

State Laws:

1. Florida, 1985 (Florida Statute Section 1003.47)
2. California, 1988 (California Education Code § 32255 et sq)
3. Pennsylvania, 1992 (24 P.S. § 15-1523)
4. New York, 1994 (NY CLS Education § 809)
5. Rhode Island, 1997 (RI Statute Section 16-22-20)
6. Illinois, 2000 (Dissection Alternatives Act 105 ILCS 112 et sq)
7. Virginia, 2004 (VA Code Ann. § 22.1-200.01.)
8. Oregon, 2005 (OR SB 383)
9. New Jersey, 2006 (NJ statutes chapt. 35 title 18A supplement)
10. Vermont, 2008 (VT H. 711, § 912. Pupil's Right of Refusal; Animal Dissection)

State Resolution:

1. Louisiana, 1992

Department of Education Policies:

1. Maine, 1989 (State Department of Education Policy)
2. Maryland, 1997 (Consensus of County Policies)
3. Massachusetts, 2005 (State Board of Education Policy)
4. New Mexico, 2005 (State Board of Education Policy)

 Updated May 15, 2009