Bill Text: MS SB2140 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Elective state-funded course for academic study of the Bible; direct State Board of Education to approve curriculum for.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [SB2140 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SB2140-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Senator(s) Gandy
Senate Bill 2140
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO APPROVE A CURRICULUM FOR AN ELECTIVE STATE-FUNDED COURSE FOR NONSECTARIAN, NONRELIGIOUS ACADEMIC STUDY OF THE BIBLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The State Board of Education is authorized to approve a curriculum for an elective state-funded course consisting of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible. The course may include the impact of the Bible on literature, art, music, culture and politics. The curriculum and associated textbooks and instructional materials shall meet academic rigor and standards of the State Board of Education in the same manner as required for approval of any other elective course, textbook and instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education and shall meet the requirements of the constitutions of the United States and of this state. The course provided for in this section shall:
(a) Be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students;
(b) Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions; and
(c) Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a particular set of religious beliefs.
(2) All courses taught in the 2015-2016 school year and school years thereafter in any public school district in the state for an elective course consisting of an academic study of the Bible shall be an approved curriculum by the State Department of Education.
(3) Any course for an academic study of the Bible using a curriculum developed by a public school district that has been approved by the Department of Education may be adopted by another public school district without further approval by the department.
(4) A public school district that elects to offer a course and utilize an associated textbook or instructional materials approved in accordance with subsection (1) shall implement the course in accordance with the Constitutions of the United States and of this state, including the manner in which the course is taught in the classroom and the assignment by the public school district of the individual teaching the course. The individual assigned to teach the course shall meet all certification requirements and all other provisions of law relating to personnel employed by school districts. In addition, no person shall be assigned to teach the course based in whole or in part on any religious test, profession of faith or lack of faith, prior or present religious affiliation or lack of affiliation, or criteria involving particular beliefs or lack of beliefs about the Bible.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as mandating that a public school district use the curriculum developed under subsection (1) for an academic study of the Bible or prohibiting a public school district from adopting its own curriculum for an academic study of the Bible; provided, that any academic study of the Bible so offered shall be approved as a special course according to the rules of the State Board of Education and in compliance with the Constitutions of the United States and of this state.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
