Bill Text: TX SB32 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the display of the national motto and historically significant documents to the founding of the United States in public schools and institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-10-06 - Filed [SB32 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB32-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Paxton S.B. No. 32
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the display of the national motto and historically
  significant documents to the founding of the United States in
  public schools and institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1.004, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1.004.  DISPLAY OF NATIONAL MOTTO AND HISTORICALLY
  SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTS. (a) A public elementary or secondary
  school or an institution of higher education as defined by Section
  61.003 must display in a conspicuous place in each building of the
  school or institution a durable poster or framed copy of the United
  States national motto, "In God We Trust," and the historically
  significant documents to the founding of the United States if the
  poster or framed copy meets the requirements of Subsection (b) and
  is:
               (1)  donated for display at the school or institution;
  or
               (2)  purchased from private donations and made
  available to the school or institution.
         (a-1)  In this section, "historically significant documents
  to the founding of the United States" means:
               (1)  the United States Declaration of Independence;
               (2)  the United States Constitution; and
               (3)  the Ten Commandments.
         (b)  A poster or framed copy [of the national motto]
  described by Subsection (a):
               (1)  must contain:
                     (A)  the national motto, a representation of the
  United States flag centered under the national motto, and a
  representation of the state flag;
                     (B)  one or more of the historically significant
  documents to the founding of the United States; or
                     (C)  both the items described by Paragraph (A) and
  one or more items described by Paragraph (B); and
               (2)  may not depict any words, images, or other
  information other than the items [representations] listed in
  Subdivision (1).
         (c)  A public elementary or secondary school and an
  institution of higher education may accept and use private
  donations for the purposes of Subsection (a).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.
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