| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school |
|
|
classrooms. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Section 1.0041 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1.0041. DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS. (a) A public |
|
|
elementary or secondary school shall display in a conspicuous place |
|
|
in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of |
|
|
the Ten Commandments that meets the requirements of Subsection (b). |
|
|
(b) A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments |
|
|
described by Subsection (a) must: |
|
|
(1) include the text of the Ten Commandments as |
|
|
provided by Subsection (c) in a size and typeface that is legible to |
|
|
a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which |
|
|
the poster or framed copy is displayed; and |
|
|
(2) be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall. |
|
|
(c) The text of the poster or framed copy of the Ten |
|
|
Commandments described by Subsection (a) must read as follows: |
|
|
"The Ten Commandments |
|
|
I AM the LORD thy God. |
|
|
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. |
|
|
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images. |
|
|
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. |
|
|
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
|
|
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the |
|
|
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. |
|
|
Thou shalt not kill. |
|
|
Thou shalt not commit adultery. |
|
|
Thou shalt not steal. |
|
|
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. |
|
|
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. |
|
|
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor |
|
|
his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy |
|
|
neighbors." |
|
|
(d) A public elementary or secondary school in which each |
|
|
classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten |
|
|
Commandments as required by Subsection (a) must: |
|
|
(1) accept any offer of a privately donated poster or |
|
|
framed copy of the Ten Commandments provided that the poster or |
|
|
copy: |
|
|
(A) meets the requirements of Subsection (b); and |
|
|
(B) does not contain any additional content; and |
|
|
(2) display the poster or framed copy as specified in |
|
|
Subsection (a). |
|
|
(e) If a public elementary or secondary school has a poster |
|
|
or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom that does |
|
|
not meet the requirements of Subsection (b), the school may replace |
|
|
the posters or copies with posters or copies that meet the |
|
|
requirements of Subsection (b) using public funds or by accepting a |
|
|
private donation. |
|
|
(f) A public elementary or secondary school must offer a |
|
|
poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments described by |
|
|
Subsection (a) in the school's possession that is not needed for |
|
|
display in a classroom as a donation to another public elementary or |
|
|
secondary school. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2024-2025 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
the vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
|
|
legislative session. |