STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

HOUSE BILL 2348	By:	Bennett

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to historical artifacts; providing for legislative intent; authorizing certain entities to display historically significant documents on certain property; authorizing Attorney General to defend certain actions; providing for codification; providing for noncodification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A.  Certain historical documents, monuments and writings have been recognized to commemorate freedom and the rich history of Oklahoma and the United States of America.
B.  The Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the Great State of Oklahoma, and other such historically significant documents are recognized throughout the
world.
C.  The Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the Great State of Oklahoma, and other such historically significant documents are treasures that should be displayed proudly and resolutely in public buildings and on public grounds.
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2001 of Title 25, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  Every county, municipality, city, town, school or any other political subdivision is authorized to display, in its public buildings and on its grounds, replicas of historical documents including, but not limited to, the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Oklahoma Constitution, and other
historically significant documents in the form of statues, monuments, memorials, tablets, or any other display that respects the dignity and solemnity of such documents.
B.  In the event that the legality or constitutionality of any such display is challenged in a court of law, the Oklahoma Attorney General is authorized to prepare and present a legal defense of the display.
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2014.

54-2-8149	LRB	01/02/14