HBA-MPM, JEK H.B. 1776 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1776 By: Green Public Education 3/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Declaration of Independence reflects the principles and convictions upon which the United States was founded. Many individuals, however, are not familiar with the content and history of this document. House Bill 1776 requires the daily recitation of part of the Declaration of Independence by public school students. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1776 amends the Education Code to require a school district's students at the beginning of each school day to recite text from the Declaration of Independence of the United States beginning with the phrase, "We hold these Truths to be self-evident; that all Men are created equal . . . ." The bill requires the State Board of Education (board) to establish an appropriate curriculum that includes the meaning and importance of this text in its 18th Century context. The bill requires the board to determine the appropriate means of implementing the provisions of the bill. These provisions do not apply to any pupil who has conscientious scruples against the recitation or who is the child of an unaccredited representative of a foreign government to whom the United States government extends diplomatic immunity. The bill requires a school district to excuse a student from the recitation on written request from the student's parent or guardian. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.