ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1338	By:	Ivester of the Senate

			and

		Russ of the House

[ schools - elective courses - Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament - codification - 		effective date ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 11-103.11 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, independent school districts may offer to students in grade nine or above:
1.  An elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and its impact and an elective course on the New Testament and its impact; or
2.  An elective course that combines the courses described in paragraph 1 of this subsection.
B.  The purposes of courses authorized by this section are to:
1.  Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; and
2.  Familiarize students with, as applicable:
a.	the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament,
b.	the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament,
c.	the literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament, and
d.	the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament on law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture.
C.  A student shall not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as the basic textbook a different translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament from that chosen by the district board of education or the student’s teacher.
D.  A course offered pursuant to this section shall use course materials provided by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools and shall follow applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives of students in the school district.  A course offered pursuant to this section shall not endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective.  Nothing in this section is intended to violate any provision of the United States Constitution or federal law, the Oklahoma Constitution or any state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States Department of Education or the State Department of Education.
E.  This section shall not be construed to prohibit a district board of education from offering a course, other than the courses authorized by this section, in the academic study of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, or both for elective credit toward high school graduation.
F.  The State Board of Education shall require no additional funds for its approval authority as required by this section.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2010.
Passed the Senate the 4th day of March, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives