Bill Text: PA HB2634 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for the use of certain historical writings, documents and records in public schools and during public school events; and prohibiting censorship based on religious or other references in certain historical writings, documents and records.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 19-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-09-24 - Referred to EDUCATION [HB2634 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB2634-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 4052
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2634 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY STERN, AUMENT, BAKER, CLYMER, CUTLER, DALEY, FLECK, GEIST, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HESS, KAUFFMAN, METCALFE, MILLER, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, PICKETT, QUINN, ROCK, SACCONE AND SWANGER, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
AN ACT
Providing for the use of certain historical writings, documents
and records in public schools and during public school
events; and prohibiting censorship based on religious or
other references in certain historical writings, documents
and records.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Use of historical writings, documents and records
with religious references in public schools.
(a) Writings enumerated.--In conformance with provisions of
22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic standards and
assessment), local school boards may allow and encourage any
teacher or administrator in a public school district of this
Commonwealth to read or post in a public school building or
classroom or during any school-sponsored or school-related
event, any excerpts or portions of the following:
(1) The Preamble to the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
(2) The Declaration of Independence.
(3) The Constitution of the United States.
(4) The Mayflower Compact.
(5) The national motto.
(6) The National Anthem.
(7) The Pledge of Allegiance.
(8) The writings, speeches, documents and proclamations
of the founding fathers and presidents of the United States.
(9) Organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial,
Revolutionary, Federalist and post-Federalist eras.
(10) United States Supreme Court decisions.
(11) Acts of the United States Congress, including the
published text of the Congressional Record.
(b) No censorship.--There shall be no content-based
censorship of American history or heritage in this Commonwealth
based on religious or other references in these writings,
documents and records.
Section 2. District notification.
Upon enactment, a copy of this act shall be distributed
immediately to each board of school directors in this
Commonwealth by the Department of Education.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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