A Senate committee today takes up a controversial bill that would allow teachers to discuss "controversial topics" in the classroom. National Center for Science Education spokesperson Barbara Forrest says it's an attempt to sneak religious creationism in the back door. Creationism is the belief that intelligent design created the universe, the planet and humankind in a relatively short span of time. Louisiana Family Forum spokesman Gene Mills says his group supports bill -- and it's not all about creationism. He says the bill is more about allowing teachers the freedom to address student queries into possible alternatives to scientific theories put forth in class. He says many teachers won't discuss these topics for fear of reprisal. Forrest says a long line of federal court rulings prevent the state from simply allowing the teaching of creation theory. The Senate Education Committee should hear that bill this morning.