Bill Text: PA HB2632 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for the public display of the foundation of American law and government.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 13-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-09-24 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HB2632 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB2632-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 4051
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2632 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY SWANGER, STERN, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, EVERETT, FLECK, GILLESPIE, HELM, HESS, KNOWLES, MURT, READSHAW, ROCK, SCHMOTZER AND STABACK, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
AN ACT
Providing for the public display of the foundation of American
law and government.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) There is a need to educate and inform the public
about the history and background of American law.
(2) State and local government buildings in this
Commonwealth are an ideal forum in which to display
educational and informational material about the history and
background of American law.
(3) A basic knowledge of American constitutional history
is important to the formation of civic virtue in our society.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Foundations
of American Law and Government Display Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Foundations of American law and government." All of the
following materials:
(1) The Mayflower Compact from 1620.
(2) The Ten Commandments as extracted from Chapter 20 of
the Book of Exodus in the Bible.
(3) The Declaration of Independence.
(4) The Magna Carta.
(5) "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key.
(6) The national motto.
(7) The Preamble to the Constitution of Pennsylvania and
the Declaration of Rights contained in Article I.
(8) The Bill of Rights of the Constitution of United
States.
(9) A description of the iconic symbol commonly referred
to as Lady Justice.
Section 3. Foundations of American law and government display.
(a) General rule.--The Commonwealth and each municipality or
political subdivision may display the foundations of American
law and government in a visible, public location in any public
building, property or courthouse.
(b) Context to be provided.--
(1) A public display of the foundations of American law
and government as authorized by this act shall include a
context for acknowledging the formative and historical
significance of the materials to the heritage of the United
States.
(2) The Commonwealth, municipalities and political
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subdivisions may consult with the Pennsylvania Historical and
Museum Commission on the development of the context required
under this subsection.
(c) Specifications.--Each of the materials of the
foundations of American law and government that are displayed in
accordance with this act shall be presented on pages not less
than 11 by 14 inches in dimension and shall be framed in
identical styled frames. No one material of the foundations of
American law and government may be displayed more prominently
than another and no one material may be excluded from the
display.
(d) Funding.--
(1) Except for consultation with the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission, no State funds or public
money of a municipality or political subdivision may be used
for a display of the foundations of American law and
government in accordance with this act.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commonwealth and
each municipality or political subdivision may solicit and
accept donations of private funds for the cost of
constructing and displaying the foundations of American law
and government in accordance with this act.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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