By Edwards                                             H.B. No. 392
       74R2374 KKA-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to a period of silent reflection or meditation in public
    1-3  schools.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
    1-6  amended by adding Section 21.940 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 21.940.  PERIOD OF SILENT REFLECTION OR MEDITATION.  At
    1-8  the beginning of the first class of each school day, all public
    1-9  school students shall observe a brief period of silent reflection
   1-10  or meditation to be used according to the dictates of the
   1-11  individual conscience of each student.
   1-12        SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 1995-1996
   1-13  school year.
   1-14        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-15  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-16  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-17  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-18  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-19  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-20  passage, and it is so enacted.